NIC at Sandpoint hosted an open house for the public with the goal to raise $100,000 to furnish the campus with a wet lab.
NIC Foundation has the goal of raising the money by April 30, 2013 to provide the location with a wet science lab enabling the outreach center to be able to offer a full associates degree program to students.
Currently, Sandpoint students that are pursuing a degree still need to drive to Coeur d’Alene to pick up the necessary science courses.
Development Coordinator Pamela Noah said the Community had expressed the need to expand the science program and that this initiated the Nov. 1 fundraiser.
Cindy Albertson, head counselor at Sandpoint Senior High School, said she attended to check out the new location.
“The proximity to the high school will create a situation where high school students can access the dual credit programs,” Albertson said.
The center was originally built as Sandpoint’s first high school and the class of 1923 was its first to graduate.
In the 1950’s the school became a middle school, then a ninth grade center before it fell into lease and Brad and Linda Scott bought it turning it into the event center that it is today.
“We’re currently using 30-40 percent of the space,” said owner Brad Scott. “But there’s plenty of room for growth.”
Brad and Linda Scott have a vision of one day housing educational facilities and hope to see the renovated old school using the theatre and auditorium for student events.
Ted Parvin, former filmmaker and student, said he attended the open house for enrichment purposes.
“The Northwest Film Institute would make a nice addition to NIC (at Sandpoint),” Parvin said, reflecting on the opportunities offered from the facility. “It would help bring film education to North Idaho.”
