North Idaho College settles lawsuit for $20,000

North Idaho College has agreed to pay its former communications director, Laura Rumpler, $20,000 to settle a federal lawsuit. Rumpler accused the college's board and president of creating a "toxic" work environment that forced her to resign in September 2023. This situation arose during a crisis affecting the college's accreditation. The college denied any wrongdoing, stating in a news release that the settlement was in its best interest. They wanted to avoid the costs and distractions of a trial while aiming to maintain a positive future for the institution. Under the settlement terms, Rumpler will receive $14,000, while her attorneys will get $6,000. The agreement was signed by NIC's board of trustees in February. It also includes a clause preventing Rumpler from speaking negatively about the college. This lawsuit is separate from three other legal matters related to NIC's accreditation, which have already been resolved. Last month, the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities lifted the sanctions placed on NIC for governance issues, granting them more time to address any remaining concerns.