PRIEST RIVER, Idaho – Exactly one month to the day after controversial West Bonner County School District’s Superintendent Branden Durst announced his intent to resign on social media, the board of trustees finalized his departure.
Durst has often been criticized for his contract, his social media conduct and his lack of qualifications over the last 119 days.
He was elected by the trustees on a narrow 3-to-2 margin, despite several community protests during the process. Less than two months later, two of the board members who voted for him, Keith Rutledge and Susan Brown, were ousted in a set of landslide recall votes, partially due to Durst’s appointment.
Once the recall vote occurred, the board had difficulties meeting. Troy Reinbold, the only Durst supporter who remained, did not show up to meetings. With two seats vacant and a third member absent, they could not take action on Durst’s employment status because there was never a quorum.
“A lot of people drive from Priest Lake which is an hour-plus away,” parent Kylie Hoepfer said. “People were driving to be ready for the meeting and then Troy just wouldn’t show up or ‘have an emergency.’”
Days after it was first reported law enforcement who began looking into Reinbold’s absences. He made his first in-person appearance at a board meeting since the late August recall election, and was a part of the unanimous 3-0 vote to accept Durst’s resignation.
“It’s a weight off our shoulders,” Hoepfer said. “This has been a summer to remember and not one that I wish on anybody.”
In the interim, former Priest River High School Principal Joseph Kren will act as superintendent on a 90-day contract. The district now has to fill in the board vacancies and find a full-time superintendent.
