Just a couple of questions.
1- Has a RN degree turned into an associates degree? I thought it was a 4 year degree. I don’t understand how a new community college will solve that. (I believe the same holds true for police employment)
2- Just how does a 4 million dollar commitment turn into a 100 million dollar program? It appears that we want to include all the collegiate efforts in one sales pitch.

It seems that the community college will have a tough time claiming the assets of the other entities. There may very well be a good arguement for a community college, but why do these people have to automatically bring out the “snow job” to get our approval? It makes me wonder what else is hidden in there.

I’ve heard the bit about firefighters a few times now, including on radio commercials and I can’t fathom what it’s about. At least in Boise, you don’t need a degree to become a fire fighter. You need to be 18 and pass a written test and a physical test. There isn’t a curriculum with a degree like in nursing. Have things changed?

And firefighters are trained on the job, on the days they work (24 on 48 off). They certainly don’t go to classes on their off days. They barely want to be trained on the days that fall on a Saturday or a Sunday even though that’s the shift day they work.

I don’t know why TVCC can’t fit the bill. Even though it’s based in (gasp) Oregon and is not home grown, why is that such a big deal?

Someone needs to follow the money on this. Cui bono?

I’m still voting no.

From what I have read the community college people are not trying to pull a snow job… that article looks like they are being honest about the potential costs.

It looks like the Community College campaign is trying to duplicate the successes of North Idaho College and College of Southern Idaho right here in the Treasure Valley. Last year BSU turned away 800 students for a number of reasons and those kids had nowhere to go. This along with the 600 students that go to CSI, nursing shortages, Boise police spending money to recruit officers from California, etc. Looks like there is a need to me.

Sometimes we conservatives need to compare cost to value. This seems like a good value for the price at the right time. Community Colleges in other parts of Idaho and the nation are essential to education and keeping the economy strong…I don’t see what the problem is? As for the Oregon run TVCC you’re right it doesn’t fit the bill…if it did we wouldn’t be having this discussion because they would have already been turning out enough nurses, police officers and plumbers for the treasure valley.

I understand and appreciate Mr. Swift’s argument. Further, he clearly highlights and examples the need for a community college in the Treasure Valley.

My concern is threefold: One, the tax base in which we want a community college to reside, Two, the slowness toward state and regional-based issues, and Three, the either-or debate that is shaping between only private sector or only public sector.

By having community colleges reside at the county level only, we could overburden a tax base that while growing, must contend with other public services of an increasing population. The city of Kuna, where I live, doubled in population between 1990 and 2000. It has since doubled between 2000 and 2006, and appears to be on the verge of another growth spurt. The fastest growing demographic are people in their 20s and 30s who will want more education opportunities for themselves and their children. $17 now is not much, as Mr. Swift correctly points out, but can a county sustain the inevitable increases on its own? His own statistics about the coming nursing shortage demonstrate this issue is a lot larger than Canyon, or any, county.

Second, while there has been movement in the legislature and elsewhere around the state — in part from prodding by well-intentioned groups like communitycollegeyes.com, I worry that we are not working in a truly comprehensive way that brings together all of this state’s regions. Why can we, for instance, work out programs that connect pre-law to our law school in Moscow? Why can’t more occur between private companies and private and public sector-based schools around the state? For example, would hospital systems in Eastern Idaho be more willing to pay for some of the current nursing programs offered by both private and public sector-based schools in the Treasure Valley in return for employee guarantees to work in one of their hospitals for three or five years?

Third, the notion that it is either a public sector or private sector-based answer belies the creativity that can come from joint partnerships that leverage the best of both worlds.

One of the reasons why these private sector-based schools have come to Idaho is the opportunity they see in our market. This competition has, and will continue to cause, our public schools to consider the types of degrees, courses, instructor talent, etc. they receive. Sadly, more needs to occur here. My concern is that counties will only address bits of the problem, while missing the larger need. When large companies invest in Idaho, our state is competing with Montana, Oregon, and others. Why can’t we create incentives for companies to want to pay for more schooling, as companies often do, in exchange for tapping the high work ethic-oriented and favorable work climate we provide? It’s time we recoginize that we are competing with other states. Why can cities, counties, and the state come together as a single entity and consider the combinations of public, private, online, etc. programs that can be created?

We need to teach competitive strategy, offered in a limited way in both the public and private sector colleges, targeted management degrees broken down by industry, decisioning and gaming tactics that apply both to business and the public sector, and so on. This is a dynamic time for our state. Let’s take advantage of it by leveraging the best we have from all of our institutions.

Thank you.

Come on people . . . the for profit institutions (UOP, George Fox, etc) want money to pay their shareholders and are trying to eliminate competition by opposing the community college. I’m all for privitization, but I also say “buck up and take the competition.” There are enough people in Idaho in need of higher education, so let’s offer a more affordable option.

Anyone that opposses starting a community college in the Treasure Valley should be ashamed of themselves. A community college can only serve to better the people of our state – at a very minimal cost and a major boost to the local economy.

And, I read “Insiders” comments tonight and can’t believe anyone would think that local control is overratted. That’s not really the issue – we are giving TVCC control and MONEY that should stay in Idaho. Voting for a community college is a no brainer.

It appears “Jim Boston” has me confused with another Steve Ackerman. For the record, I am an adjunct professor with Boise State University. I am also president of a research firm in Boise that does NO work in the education space. I currently do not have any connection to a for-profit college or university. I don’t know what kind of calls “Mr. Boston” is alleging my wife and I are making, but we’re not. I welcome anyone to call and check the facts.

BSU is a good school with caring people. The students pay for their classes directly (while holding down jobs) or obtain the money from their parents and the citizens of Idaho. These schools do what they can. Often, I pay for extra things that go further than they can because of budget limitations and policy issues. Do I do it for the money? Not really. I do it because it offers more for the students and shows respect for the subject. I do it because I believe in educating students.

These students are hungry for knowledge, and they want to learn. Yet, I don’t believe we provide enough creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship to enter the picture. We need to teach students how to think critically, to separate opinion from analysis, and to question the data that is thrown at them 24 hours a day.

Would I teach a class at one of the local schools — public or private — if they called? Sure, if I have the time – I do work full-time. Have I done it before? Yes, and so what. I happen to work at a small business and teach on the side. I’ve done it for about 11 years, and I enjoy doing it. So “Mr. Boston,” I plan right on continuing to teach.

My concern is that our rapid growth may overwhelm county-level budget capabilities. And I believe we can tap more from the private sector-based education and companies, which have come into this valley in droves. Our population is booming, budgets get allocated between competing departments. Job and market concerns, as well as competitive issues, come into play. These are not easy decisions for these institutions. And the adjuncts that do this work are invaluable to this community.

“Mr. Boston” chose not to address these issues, deciding instead to attack my wife and I. All the while hiding behind an electronic veil. That’s a sad state of affairs that shows more cowardice than reason.

So, “Jim Boston,” what is your response to the problems that have been raised in these articles on higher education? What is your answer to bringing in more companies and private schools to support more education through partnerships? What is your solution to the bill being proposed for county-wide funding? I, and several others have given their opinion. Where is yours?

Well everybody, I’m still not clear about these allegations. I work full time and teach a class or two on the side. It’s sad when questioning of motive and allegations are thrown around so loosely.

As I mentioned, I’m more than happy to teach a class somewhere else — public or private and given time availability. I just don’t see the relevance. I’m also not wild about continued involvement of my wife in these conversations. Let’s end that ASAP.

When a person makes claims about alleged phone calls, insinuating that my views have “changed” and that I am seeking a job “under the guise of” and so on, it conveys something that is not accurate. The fact is, Mr. Boston, you are not “just stating the facts.” You are making false accusations and trying to create a misrepresentation my part and you should stop doing so.

I have not moved from wanting a community college to not wanting one. I have always believed Idaho needs a comprehensive college system that is a mix of public and private schools.

I question whether a county can necessarily grow substantially to cover the costs of managing a college system. I believe we need more evidence to demonstrate that before embarking on that venture. Moreover, people work, live, etc. across counties and a county-based system would bring limitations as to which students it could accept that don’t fit with market conditions.

On affordability, schools like the University of Phoenix conduct online-based schools that can be made much more affordable. Can our state schools not do something similar? Also, companies pay for tuition costs that can cover substantial portions of expenses. How about extending that further through a mix of employment guarantees and more tuition coverage?

My argument is not a community college or nothing. It is that we need more support from private corporations located in Idaho. I believe such partnerships can make education more affordable. Further, I want the state of Idaho to do more, as a way of making college more affordable for everybody — not just a county in the Treasure Valley.

This is a statewide issue, and we need a statewide solution. There are plenty of students throughout the state that lack the ability to afford college — not just in the Treasure Valley. All need more choice, and frankly, more competition.

Hi, my name is Jim Boston – and, I want to assure you that I’m only lone supporter, not part of one of the organized cc support groups. Also, my knowledge of Steve’s wife and her attempts to get her husband work and express Steve’s cc support was not part of any HR process at any organization – so, no laws have been broken (I assure you).

The point of my comment was that Steve’s views have appeared to evolve over the last few months – just wanted to know. And, because the information has been based on coversations his wife has had with people – I thought it would be really helpful to get his views – straight from his mouth. None of this was intended to be an attack – but, Mr. Rhodes -with his latest comments have been the most disparaging so far. Just because we don’t agree with Mr. Rhodes, our thoughts have been charachterized with words like “dribble” and childlike. Is that an intellectual discussion?

I have no idea??? Why are you asking me?? I would speculate that they think a community college would be a good thing for the Treasure Valley. Just a guess. We all get behind things we are passionate about – including you (I would guess). That doesn’t AUTOMATICALLY mean that there are sinister motives behind what they support or work for. I don’t know any of those people, but I do think a community college would be great for the Treasure Valley – especially our youth.

Government cannot live within it’s means. Never has, never will.
They continue to bleed every dollar thay can out of you and I. They continue to cater to special interest groups and minorities and those who overextend their finances and attempt to have families larger than they can afford.
Do they plan to reimburse me for the education I was unable to get because of the lack of a Community College (CC)? I took it on myself to obtain any ‘special education’ required for my jobs by military service and on the job training. I worked hard for the respect and experience I use today in my everyday work environment and I observe the graduates of today who expect to be given that respect because they finished college. You can learn from a book, but to apply that learning takes experience on the job. To say the least, I am unimpresed by the push for a CC. Too many special interest groups are behind this push for the CC.
Who stands to benifit? HP, Micron, St Als & Lukes? If you need an education, pay for it. Don’t ask me to support your children because you can’t. The government can’t pay their bills as it is. Why add additional load to the bloated budget they have amassed. Go to college and study finance and come back and tell me that adding to the government debt is a sensible or reasonable decision. What happens to you personally if you exceede your ability to pay your debts?
The government on the other hand has exempted themselves from the laws that govern you. This is what they do best. Can you retire after 4 years in office?
Let us elect government leaders who will pay the debts created by those who came before them then establish laws that govern and control government spending. After all, who is going to pay those bills the government is creating for you?