No decision made at WBCSD special meeting

PRIEST RIVER – After four hours, the West Bonner County School District special meeting regarding Branden Durst’s superintendent contract ended in a no-decision on Monday night. The board will hold another special meeting on Wednesday, June 14 at 3:30 p.m. to review and vote on Durst’s revised contract. Board members will also potentially re-vote on the appointment of Branden Durst as superintendent.

The original contract was almost unrecognizable as a majority of its sections were either altered, changed, or removed. The original sections included, but were not limited to, Durst’s salary, paid leave, work schedule, the potentiality of leasing or procuring a vehicle for the superintendent for professional use - this was changed to just a mileage reimbursement, and Durst’s timeline in which he needs to obtain an emergency provisional certificate approved by the State Board of Education.

Since the contract was changed drastically, board members decided that it was not in their best interest to vote on the contract, but instead, wait until a revised one was available for everyone to read, including the public. It was stated that the revised contract is set to be public at some time tomorrow. Not only that, but board members Susan Brown and Troy Reinbold decided they had enough and left the meeting at approximately 9:13 p.m. The meeting concluded about an hour later.

“Thank you for actually listening to us,” a community member said to the board. “We really do appreciate it."

Full story and more information to follow.