Interesting Item on the State Board Agenda

[Skippy]

There is an interesting item on the State Board of Education's agenda when the board meets in Pocatello Wednesday and Thursday. ISU is asking the board for a waiver to its current policy limiting the amount of state funding it can spend on athletics. ISU is seeking permission to spend an additional $250 K per year, for each of the next three years, on athletics. Specifically, football would get an additional $65 K per year, men's and women's basketball $45 K, and volleyball and softball $10 K, all geared toward improving recruiting.

In addition, $75 K would be used each year for "infrastructure and marketing improvements and for capital equipment purchases," according to the proposal.

The state board staff is recommending approval of the temporary increase, along with recommending that ISU provide an annual report to the Athletics Committee on the impact of this investment and plans for long-term sustainability.

Included with the ISU request to the state board are letters from a number of stakeholders supporting the proposal, including former ISU Student Body President and Oregon and Nebraska AD Bill Byrne; former President of the ISU Foundation Michael Byrne; ISU donor Sylvia Papenberg; Kent Oram, CEO of Idaho Central Credit Union, which has been a regular donor to the athletic department; Troy Bell, CEO of TanaBell Health Services, another ISU donor; and Don Neves, Jim Koetter, Scott Thornley and Mike Standley, who have had many different ties to the university, including Koetter's time there as head and assistant football coach.

While it's not a huge sum of money, adding $250 K a year to recruiting, marketing and capital budgets certainly can't hurt the situation.

 

[votb]

I knew a version of this was coming, and I'm glad to hear there appears to be at least a level of acceptance for it. It will be interesting to see what reaction will be to the request...both officially from the board. and from the other in-state schools.

 

[votb]

The State Board this afternoon voted to allow ISU to spend an additional $250k over the next three years on athletic recruiting budgets. It was pretty much a done deal, apparently. Jeff Tingey brought it up, the board voted immediately.

 

[biobengal]

The state board staff is recommending approval of the temporary increase, along with recommending that ISU provide an annual report to the Athletics Committee on the impact of this investment and plans for long-term sustainability.

I think we would all like to see this.

For those in the know, how are ISU's enrollment and retention prospects? IMO, this is one of the few areas (partly under ISU's control) that can actually increase the budget.