Rep. Frank Henderson sent the following e-mail to Hucks Online re: a recent comment by Trustee Christie Wood here that he hadn't sought NIC input for a proposal to split community college districts into subdistricts: "Christie Wood's comment that I haven't contacted NIC reveals a breakdown in NIC internal communications.  I don't know the exact date but about two weeks ago after talking with NIC's paid lobbiest in the capitol on the subject, I sent John Martin an email message containing all the criteria under consideration for establishing Trustee Districts.  My message also told John the information could be shared with NIC trustees and others who would be interested.  I sent the same information to the College of Western Idaho and to the College of Southern Idaho. Since that time I have had frequent inputs from both the other colleges -- but I haven't received anything from NIC/" More below.

Question: Should community college districts be split into subdistricts to ensure that rural areas have a chance to be represented by someone who lives nearby?

When I return to Boise on Monday I will send you a copy of the message I sent to John Martin. Last week the three community colleges were in Boise to entertain legislators at a luncheon.  I was unable to attend that meeting but was in my office all that day.  NIC is the only school that didn't contact me. Several versions of the legislation have been prepared -- and I think one of them was sent to John Martin as a follow up to the original. As a result of the inputs from CWI and CSI I have made significant changes from the original proposal.  I am not the only legislator working on this issue.  Both legislative bodies are represented. Consequently, I am disappointed that NIC hasn't made any input.   I have always known that the Trustees didn't favor to concept of having to reside in a specific district -- but the legislature is acting to assure that taxpayers throughout the entire area where the college has authority to levy property taxes has representation on the governing board that determines the level of taxation.   I will forward my file to you when I have access to my computer in Boise.

Frank provided copies of the e-mails that he sent to NIC official John Martin.