Education Board Scales Still Tipping Toward The West Some Eastern Supporters Worry About Bias At Sept. 17 Meeting

Many grieved the death of former Spokane Mayor Vicki McNeill last January.

But perhaps none has been made to mourn as long as the supporters of Eastern Washington University.

McNeill was the Spokane representative on the state’s Higher Education Coordinating Board, a powerful group that administers state-funded financial aid and provides citizens’ oversight for six state universities and 32 community colleges.

In the nine months following McNeill’s death, Gov. Gary Locke has yet to appoint a replacement. For that matter, the law doesn’t require him to put someone from Eastern Washington on the HEC Board.

That’s a concern for those hoping to keep Eastern afloat. The university next week goes before the board to ask for millions that the school and its 6,700 students badly need to pay faculty and maintain programs.

“I think it’s a shame that we haven’t had someone on the board all this time,” said Vivian Winston, a Spokane resident who served on the HEC Board prior to McNeill. “I have been a token representative for so many different causes on the West Side, I can tell you that the lack of knowledge about Eastern Washington is abysmal.”

Eastern’s George Durrie, director of government relations, said he’s not worried.

“This shouldn’t color the outcome,” he said.

But the nine-person board that Eastern officials will face will be heavily weighted toward the West Side at its Sept. 17 meeting in Olympia. Six members live along the Interstate 5 corridor, one comes from Ellensburg, home of Central Washington University, and one from Pasco.

David Shaw, board secretary and the executive director of personnel and multicultural programs for the Pasco School District, said he expects the board to treat Eastern fairly.

“The board has been looking at the entirety of the higher education system,” he said, “and not just parochialism of special interests.

Terrance Brown, chief executive officer of the Community Colleges of Spokane, which feeds Eastern hundreds of transfer students every quarter, said the absence of a Spokane representative is one more obstacle to Eastern’s recovery.

“You bet it makes a difference,” he said. “Why do you think I go to so many meetings? You have to be there to make sure that Spokane is right out there represented.”

Eastern is asking the board to release $3.2 million in state money that is being withheld until the university boosts its student enrollment.

The HEC Board staff has recommended release of $1.84 million to pay faculty salaries. A remaining $1.35 million would support academic programs and student recruitment.

Locke spokesman Chris Thompson said the governor could name a replacement for McNeill at anytime.

, DataTimes