Senate Changes Mind - Wants Shirvani Out - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Senate Changes Mind - Wants Shirvani Out

Senators in the North Dakota legislature thought it over for a day, and changed their minds.

At least enough of them did to pass an amendment funding the Board of Higher Education to buy out the contract of the university system chancellor.

Yesterday, Fargo Senator Tony Grindberg's proposal to send $850,000 to the board to push Hamid Shirvani out the door, failed by one vote in the senate.

Shirvani has been chancellor for less than a year and has a contract through June of 2015.

Today, the buyout amendment passed on a vote of 28-19.

The amendment provides funding for a buyout of Shirvani's contract but does not require the board to get rid of him.

(Sen. Tony Grindberg / (R) Fargo) "Folks that changed their position on the vote, this reinforces the message that current direction and concerns are broad based. Whether it's the legislature or the students There are a number of folks who are expressing their concerns and the legislature spoke."

If the Board of Higher Education chooses not to get rid of Shirvani before his contract is up, the $850,000 will go back to the general fund.

The chancellor buyout provision is now added into the university system budget that moves to the House for it's consideration.