2008 Woodie Awards
The way we see it ...
Local group does more for a community college than Idaho legislatures
Arbiter Editorial Board
Issue date: 3/8/07 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 1
What do you do when your local government ignores your concerns and refuses to acknowledge the need for a community college?
Well, if you’re as motivated as Community College YES members, you collect nearly 3,000 signatures to force the issue. The local group delivered almost three times the amount of needed signatures to the Canyon County Courthouse last Wednesday to spur a ballot measure regarding the
formation of a community college district in southwest Idaho.
This clearly shows the residents of Idaho recognize what local lawmakers don’t – a desperate need for a community college.
For Boise State University to ever truly reach President Kustra’s vision as a “major metropolitan research university of distinction,” a local community college must be formed sooner, not later. The university already has the space available with BSU West, the name (College of Western Idaho) and, as this petition shows, the community support.
With local government officials unable to even get their acts together long enough to lower the required vote needed (66 percent) to 60 percent, somebody had to step up and spearhead a renewed effort.
This local group of residents did just that. Because of the efforts of Community College YES, students not ready or wanting to go on to a four-year institution may have some educational opportunities for them locally someday soon.
High school students with low GPAs may have a chance to attend school and get the kind of individual attention a four-year college won’t be able to provide them. Students who did not or could not finish high school may have another convenient place to go for GED courses. And the chance for new jobs to be created in the Treasure Valley because of a community college is still alive.
A community college may still be a long way off, but at least it has a fighting chance once again because of the efforts of Community College YES.
The way we see it is based on the majority opinions of The Arbiter editorial board. Members of the board are Drew Mayes, editor-in-chief; Troy Sawyer, business manager; Heather English, production manager; Dustin Lapray, managing editor; Barry Franklin, opinion editor; Harsh Mantri, online editor; and Sheree Whiteley, lead copy editor.
Well, if you’re as motivated as Community College YES members, you collect nearly 3,000 signatures to force the issue. The local group delivered almost three times the amount of needed signatures to the Canyon County Courthouse last Wednesday to spur a ballot measure regarding the
formation of a community college district in southwest Idaho.
This clearly shows the residents of Idaho recognize what local lawmakers don’t – a desperate need for a community college.
For Boise State University to ever truly reach President Kustra’s vision as a “major metropolitan research university of distinction,” a local community college must be formed sooner, not later. The university already has the space available with BSU West, the name (College of Western Idaho) and, as this petition shows, the community support.
With local government officials unable to even get their acts together long enough to lower the required vote needed (66 percent) to 60 percent, somebody had to step up and spearhead a renewed effort.
This local group of residents did just that. Because of the efforts of Community College YES, students not ready or wanting to go on to a four-year institution may have some educational opportunities for them locally someday soon.
High school students with low GPAs may have a chance to attend school and get the kind of individual attention a four-year college won’t be able to provide them. Students who did not or could not finish high school may have another convenient place to go for GED courses. And the chance for new jobs to be created in the Treasure Valley because of a community college is still alive.
A community college may still be a long way off, but at least it has a fighting chance once again because of the efforts of Community College YES.
The way we see it is based on the majority opinions of The Arbiter editorial board. Members of the board are Drew Mayes, editor-in-chief; Troy Sawyer, business manager; Heather English, production manager; Dustin Lapray, managing editor; Barry Franklin, opinion editor; Harsh Mantri, online editor; and Sheree Whiteley, lead copy editor.
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