ELECTS NEW OFFICERS
COEUR D'ALENE -- The State Board of Education has approved a lease agreement at the Idaho Water Center in Boise, and authorized Idaho State University to continue investigating purchasing land and buildings at the University Place in Idaho Falls.
On a 5 to 1 vote, with Blake Hall voting against the motion, the University of Idaho can proceed with plans to sublease 4,250 square feet of retail space at the Idaho Water Center to Washington Group International. According to the agreement, WGI would pay $1.5 million for the sublease including tenant improvement costs.
Idaho State University can continue to enter into negotiations with the University of Idaho Foundation to purchase 26 acres of land, including the Fred Tingey Administration Building and the land on which the Center for Higher Education and Idaho State University's Sam Bennion Student Union Building are situated. The Board also requested an updated appraisal before it makes a decision on the sale.
The State Board also approved a 5-year contract for Boise State University head basketball coach Greg Graham. The contract pays Graham $135,000 per year, plus supplemental compensation for appearing in national tournaments, winning games, and media and public appearances. The contract will need some clarifications requested by the Board including: incorporating a graduation rate requirement into bonuses given to Graham for team member's academic achievements, clarifications on the university's role with respect to summer camps, and technical corrections regarding legal representation during the contract negotiations.
The meeting ended with the election of new officers for the coming year. Blake Hall of Idaho Falls has served as president for two years with Jim Hammond of Post Falls as vice president and Rod Lewis of Eagle as secretary. The Board unanimously approved Lewis as the new president with Laird Stone of Twin Falls as vice president and Milford Terrell of Boise as secretary.
ADDITIONAL BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION ON THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:
Rod Lewis was appointed to the State Board of Education in March 2000, and was elected to serve as Secretary in April 2002. Lewis has chaired the Board's Instruction, Research and Student Affairs Committee since 2001. Mr. Lewis is employed as Vice President of Legal Affairs, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for Micron Technology, Inc. of Boise. He is a graduate of Columbia University School of Law in New York and Brigham Young University where he received his undergraduate degree in Economics and Asian Studies.
Laird Stone was appointed to the Board in December 2001. He is a partner in the law firm Stephan, Kvanvig, Stone and Trainor in Twin Falls. He is a Gooding native who graduated from Gooding High School and earned his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Idaho. He continued his education at the Advocacy College of the Hasting College of Law in San Francisco and the National Association of Criminal Defense Trial College in Houston. Stone is active in the Magic Valley community serving on the executive committee of the Snake River Council of Boy Scouts, is president of American Legion Baseball, has been chairman of the Twin Falls Park and Recreation Commission, is a member of Kiwanis, and has coached youth baseball for 10 years. He recently was awarded the Twin Falls Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award.
Milford Terrell was appointed to the Board in January of 2003. He is currently the President and owner of DeBest Plumbing & Mechanical. He served two years in the Vietnam conflict as a medical technician, receiving a Good Conduct Medal and a Presidential Citation for service above and beyond the call of duty. Terrell did his plumbing apprenticeship through the Vocational-Technical educational program at Boise State College. He is the former President of the Bronco Athletic Association and current Chairman of the Humanitarian Bowl, and he is the first BSU alumni member to be appointed to the State Board of Education since the 1980s.
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