By MARC STEWART

Staff Writer

COEUR d’ALENE — North Idaho College is leasing 8,500 square feet of floor space on its main campus to a private business at no charge.

In return, Gizmo-CDA, a nonprofit that offers computer, robotic technology education, will provide laboratory space to NIC students at reduced costs as well as collaborating on curriculum and future programs with various departments across campus.

“Right now conversations are happening all over campus,” said Barbara Mueller, who founded Gizmo-CDA with husband Marty in 2014. “One computer science class will have its lab in our building, but that’s just the beginning. I could see art, physics and chemistry classes in the Gizmo lab.”

NIC President Rick MacLennan told The Press in a written statement that the college entered the agreement to “create sustainable programs and curricular opportunities for students and faculty.”

MacLennan said, over the past two years, NIC and Gizmo explored the possibility of collaborating in a way that would benefit both organizations and the community.

“Through this process we asked ourselves, will this relationship add value to, and support, our mission? Will it create access to learning and engagement opportunities that will benefit NIC students and faculty? And will it support our interest in providing broad access to learning opportunities that focus on innovation and entrepreneurship?” MacLennan said.

The answers to those questions were all “yes,” he said.

“In the final analysis, we realized that if Gizmo-CDA did not already exist in our community, NIC would have to create, from scratch, and at a significant financial investment, the tools, talent and infrastructure that Gizmo-CDA brings to NIC. We decided that providing collaborative space for Gizmo-CDA on our campus would better serve our goals than would a traditional rental-style relationship.”

When asked how this arrangment benefits the taxpayer, MacLennan wrote:

“Business and Industry are demanding more skilled workers who can adapt, innovate and critically think. The nature of education, just like the nature of work is changing. Our taxpayers, our communities, and our partners in industry expect us to adapt. We must be more creative and collaborative in responding to 21st century challenges. Our partnership with GIZMO-CDA is one such collaboration that is a value-add for all parties involved, including the taxpayers we serve.”

In the agreement, North Idaho College described the nature of its relationship with Gizmo-CDA as that of an “independent contractor.”

Mueller said Gizmo-CDA will continue to offer classes to the public and that NIC students will be able to take them at a discounted rate.

“It’s a place to be able to touch your toes into a new skill set,” said Barb Mueller. “In today’s world, there are not a lot of ways to figure out your next step. It’s much easier to take a class that will lead to a course of study.”

The details about student costs regarding labs and use of Gizmo’s equipment are not known yet, MacLennan said.

“The agreement was intentionally designed in the spirit of collaboration for NIC and Gizmo-CDA to walk into the future together, talking with students and faculty as we design and define what future learning will look like so it’s too early to say what access and opportunities will be embedded into existing classes, clubs and labs and what will be new.”

Under the terms of the three-year contract, Gizmo receives free internet and phone service, up to 25 used NIC computers, and free water and electricity from the college. Gizmo is responsible for carrying liability insurance.

The Hedlund Building formerly housed career and technical programs, however, that space was freed up when the programs moved into the new Parker Technical Education Center in Rathdrum.

Gizmo currently is remodeling its space within the Hedland Building including updating the electrical system.

“We’re spending tens of thousands of dollars on walls and wiring,” said Mueller. “If we were to ever leave, the college would get to benefit from these improvements.”