North Idaho College

Kent Kimball discusses the second annual performance of Handel's oratorio

While the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities praised the faculty, staff and students of North Idaho College for their resilience, the commission had a less positive view of the school's board of trustees.

Gallery owner Cassie Hoialmen, NIC's Joe Jacoby and composer Madeline McNeill

North Idaho College said it would release the commission's decision and “any additional information” about the college’s accreditation as soon as possible after it receives the formal notification.

A Kootenai County judge granted North Idaho College President Nick Swayne’s request for summary judgment, restoring him to the office and forgoing a civil trial that had been scheduled for October. NIC will also have to pay Swayne’s attorneys’ fees.

The ruling from Kootenai County Magistrate Judge Ross Pittman allows the emails to be added as exhibits in a lawsuit that accuses NIC Trustees Todd Banducci, Greg McKenzie and Mike Waggoner of open meeting law violations and fraud. The suit also names NIC attorney Art Macomber.

Judge Cynthia Meyer rejected trustees' request to take NIC President Nick Swayne back out of office, and called an investigation of Swayne's contract a "sham" and pretext to get rid of him.

It is the second time in less than six months trustees Greg McKenzie, Todd Banducci and Mike Waggoner have moved to neutralize NIC President Nick Swayne. Two other trustees warned the decision could draw legal trouble.

In a response letter to the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, North Idaho College acknowledged its trustees’ decisions have been disruptive for the college and its community, and asked NWCCU not to strip the school’s accreditation.

North Idaho College alleges there were misstatements in Swayne’s February 24 court testimony and that since his March 6 return to office, Swayne has engaged in “deeply troubling behavior."