Documented Record
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This public college was taken over by the far-right - a warning for the future of higher ed
Economic Hardship Reporting Project · May 2025
- He shouted at board attorney Jennifer Wood: "I ought to take you outside right now and kick your ass!" and told her his wife was "going to bitch slap you."
- A 2020 letter from fellow board members acknowledged "a number of past situations" where his actions "were perceived to be threatening, intimidating, and/or rude."
- Then-president MacLennan told the board he personally witnessed Banducci physically assault a college employee at an event.
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North Idaho College Was Taken Over By the Far-Right - It's a Warning for the Future of Higher Ed
Teen Vogue · October 2024
- As a precinct committeeman, he voted for Idaho Republican Party platform language opposing "using taxpayer funding for programs beyond high school" - a broad provision with no carve-out for community colleges like NIC.
- NIC president Nick Swayne warned: "Once it's part of the platform in such a general way, then it allows for them to censure members of the legislature who do support higher education."
- The article documents the full arc of KCRCC-backed trustee conduct that brought NIC to the brink of losing accreditation, noting Banducci is "rated and vetted" by the KCRCC.
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Accreditation is central issue in NIC trustee races
Idaho Ed News · October 2024
- He was part of the KCRCC board majority when NIC received the worst accreditation sanction in Idaho history.
- He did not run again in 2024, and the KCRCC's next three candidates all lost.
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Six candidates vie for North Idaho College board as final accreditation decision looms
Spokesman-Review · October 2024
- Firing the college president cost taxpayers roughly $500,000.
- NIC went through three consecutive presidents and received the highest-level accreditation threat possible.
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MY TURN: Here's how Banducci can be NIC hero
Coeur d'Alene Press · March 2024
- After four years of his tenure, the accreditor suspended NIC's reviews until the college improved.
- A community voice called it "the gravest threat to the college in its 90-year history."
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North Idaho College board sees new chairman as 3 new trustees join
Spokesman-Review · May 2022
- He sued to block state-appointed trustees from joining the board and lost.
- An incoming trustee called the environment "toxic" and warned the college could lose its liability insurance.
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"It's us speaking as one voice": North Idaho College employees vote no confidence in board
KREM · December 2022
- Both faculty and staff assemblies passed no-confidence resolutions; the staff chair said, "There's a sense of fear, of intimidation that staff feel."
- The accreditor publicly declared: "The Board of Trustees at North Idaho College is dysfunctional."
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A polarizing presence, at the center of North Idaho College's dysfunction
Idaho Capital Sun · April 2022
- He led the vote to fire the college president without cause and pushed to replace him with the wrestling coach.
- He expected the president to take "marching orders" from him; faculty passed votes of no confidence.
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Tense meeting at North Idaho College as accreditation hangs in the balance
KREM · March 2022
- More than 200 people attended a NIC board meeting to demand his resignation; community members submitted 1,000 index cards calling for his removal.
- He attempted to shut down public comment before the college attorney intervened to allow the remaining speakers.
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North Idaho College accreditation threatened by trustees' actions, report says
Spokane Public Radio · March 2022
- The accreditor's report found he believed his job was to purge the college of "deep state" administrators and pressured faculty over Covid and grades.
- The wrongful termination settlement and back pay totaled roughly $500,000 to taxpayers.
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Former North Idaho College President to receive $500K of compensation after his firing
KREM · 2022
- The state's insurer paid $250,000 to settle the wrongful termination lawsuit.
- The fired president also received a full year of salary and benefits, bringing the total cost to about $500,000.
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Partisan politics poisoning NIC
Coeur d'Alene Press · September 2021
- Experienced attorneys told the board not to proceed; they were ignored.
- Banducci did not graduate from high school.
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North Idaho College's accreditation at risk as commission investigates Board of Trustees conduct
Spokesman-Review via Wenatchee World · May 2021
- The college president reported credible allegations that Banducci physically assaulted a female employee at a college event in 2019.
- The accreditor found the board majority's actions drove out all three Vice Presidents and a Dean.