PRIEST RIVER, Idaho – For the third straight time, a meeting called by the West Bonner County School District was canceled the day of.
The previous two times were caused by temporary restraining orders against recalled former board chair Keith Rutledge and board vice chair Susan Brown, as they tried to call for emergency meetings before the recall election was officially certified. On Wednesday, it was the absence of Troy Reinbold, who primarily voted with Brown and Rutledge, which left only two board members attending, one below the number needed to host an official meeting.
“He’s not fulfilling his duty as a trustee,” acting Board Chair Margaret Hall said. “There were a lot of key things critical to moving this district forward (on the agenda). If he chose for one reason or another not to attend, he’ll have to answer to why he did not attend.”
Reinbold informed the board this morning he would not be in attendance; however, as a regularly scheduled meeting, they could not cancel it until they officially didn’t have a quorum. While West Bonner County School District Superintendent Branden Durst said Reinbold told him he would have trouble making today’s meeting a week ago and said it had nothing to do with political reasons, many in attendance speculated that Reinbold’s absence was intentionally timed to protect Durst, who’s future with the district is up in the air. NonStop Local reached out to Reinbold but did not receive a reply.
Reinbold would have to miss four consecutive meetings in a row to face disciplinary action, but with his seat coming up for re-election in November, he could continue to no-show until then, leaving the board unable to complete any actions until at least 2024.
Hall plans on attempting to call a special meeting next Wednesday to address many of the agenda items that were tabled.
