COEUR d’ALENE — North Idaho College trustees voted unanimously this week to authorize the purchase of a property and to authorize up to $750,000 for the construction of an indoor practice space for athletics programs displaced by renovations elsewhere on campus. 

Before the public part of Wednesday night’s regular board meeting, trustees convened in executive session to discuss real property and facilities planning. When the board reconvened in public, they didn’t discuss the matter further before voting. 

NIC President Nick Swayne said Thursday that he couldn’t yet reveal the location or the assessed value of the property in question. By law, a public entity in Idaho cannot pay more than a property's appraised value. 

“Because this involves an active real estate transaction, we’re limited in what we can share at this stage,” Swayne said. 

Board chair Tarie Zimmerman said the purchase is in line with NIC’s strategic plan.

“The trustees are working hard to responsibly manage taxpayer funds,” she said Thursday. “Whenever we make a decision, we’re very mindful of that.”

Swayne said the need for an athletic training facility is tied to other improvements on campus.

“As we continue to expand and improve facilities across campus, we want to ensure our student-athletes have safe, reliable spaces to train and compete,” he said. 

NIC’s career and technical education programs were once housed in the Hedlund Building on campus. After the Parker Technical Education Center opened in Rathdrum in 2016, the space those programs occupied in the Hedlund Building was converted into a practice area for the soccer and softball teams. 

Today, the Hedlund Building is also home to NIC X-Labs, a shared lab space where students, faculty, community members and industry partners collaborate. Renovations that will expand the lab space have displaced the softball and soccer teams. 

Swayne said the $750,000 authorized by the board will provide a cost-effective indoor practice facility for those displaced programs. 

“We’re focused on delivering a practical solution that supports student success while being mindful of costs and taxpayer resources,” he said. 

Zimmerman said the decision was a necessary one and added that the facility may come in under budget.

“We certainly want to support the student athletes,” she said. “If you don't have a space to practice, how are you expected to perform?”

Trustees also voted Wednesday night to direct Swayne to engage a third party for facilities master planning. 

“With the Strategic Plan now in place, the next step is ensuring our facilities align with that vision,” he said.  

Engaging a third-party expert brings “an objective, data-driven approach” to planning the future of NIC’s campus, Swayne said. 

“This process will help us prioritize investments, make the most of existing resources, and ensure we are thoughtful stewards of taxpayer dollars as we plan for the college’s long-term future,” he said. 

Swayne said the board’s decisions this week are about “planning responsibly for the college’s future.” 

“While some details can’t be shared during active negotiations, every decision is focused on supporting students, strengthening our community and being good stewards of taxpayer resources,” he said. 

    Zimmerman