North Idaho College President Priscilla Bell told legislative budget writers this morning that her college has no wish list for funding, recognizing the tight state budget. Students will, however, feel the impact of holdbacks and budget reductions, she said, as they come at a time of sharply increasing enrollment. “Community college enrollments are counter-cyclical,” Bell said. “The economy goes down, and our enrollment goes up.” For next year, Gov. Butch Otter is proposing a 4 percent cut in state funding for community colleges, and that’s after pumping an additional $1 million into the new College of Western Idaho/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise. More here.

Question: How important was a community college to your secondary education?