"As Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne and other state leaders push for a statewide community college system, local control remains the crucial issue to NIC and College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls. The two institutions have accomplished much in preparing high school graduates for four-year colleges. Additionally, NIC has enabled nontraditional students to make the transition in a local economy that has changed from reliance on natural resource industries to tourism and high technology. They have done so by responding quickly to new educational challenges instead of relying on a Boise-based board. The two colleges should remain in local hands no matter what transpires during the 2006 Idaho Legislature."

For the rest of my editorial about Gov. Kempthorne's proposed community college system, click here.

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