Court order forces board to cancel special meeting

A temporary restraining order was granted late Friday afternoon, barring the West Bonner County School District from making any changes to the board or authority given to Superintendent Brandon Durst before the recall of board chair Keith Rutledge and vice chair Susan Brown takes place on Thursday.

The order put end to a special board meeting set for Friday by Rutledge the day before. Among the agenda items were items to dissolve the current board and elect a new chairman. Also on the agenda and consideration and approval of a contract for legal representation, and a second and third phase of a forensic audit.

Under executive session, the board is slated to conduct evaluations for both Superintendent Branden Durst and board clerk, Brandy Paradee. In addition, is consideration of possible legal action against the Idaho State Board of Education.

Voters have successfully recalled Rutledge and Brown on Tuesday. In Zone 4, there were 762 votes to recall Rutledge, or 62.66%, compared to 454 votes against, or 37.34%. In Zone 2, there were 624 votes to recall Brown, or 65.96%, compared to 322 against, or 34.04%.

For the recall to be successful, at least 245 people needed to vote in favor of removing Rutledge from office, and be at least one vote more than those seeking to retain him. For Brown, those seeking to remove her from office needed to total at least 177 votes and be at least one vote more than those seeking to retain her.