West Bonner welcomes new trustee
Board Clerk Julie Hinshaw swears in Zone 3 Trustee Delbert Pound during the Sept. 18 West Bonner County School District board meeting.
Photo by ERIC WELCH
PRIEST RIVER — With the addition of Zone 3 Trustee Delbert Pound, the West Bonner County School District board is whole again.
Pound was the lone applicant for the role after former Trustee Troy Reinbold resigned in July less than a year into his second term.
“I believe in the public school system,” Pound said during his public interview before the board’s Sept. 18 meeting. “I hope to help out where I can.”
Board members questioned Pound on a variety of issues to understand his perspectives and assess his viability for the role.
When asked about his vision for education in the community, Pound replied that he believed the district should “help the kids that need more help than others” and “get to where we can have long-term teachers who want to stay here.”
When asked what he hoped to accomplish by serving on the board, Pound responded that he hoped to increase the board’s engagement with the community.
“I’ve lived here all my life,” said Pound. “This community is my home."
He added that he, his parents, and his children all went through the West Bonner’s schools, and that he hoped to restore WBCSD as “a very successful school district.”
“If we can get back to that, that would be my goal,” Pound said.
After the interview, public attendees were invited to provide comments.
“I’ve known Delbert since he was born,” said Candy Turner. “I don’t think you will get anyone better.”
All four existing trustees voted to appoint Pound to the board, who was sworn in during the board’s regular meeting less than an hour later.
“Thank you for stepping up and being willing to serve,” Board Chair Margaret Hall told Pound after the vote.
In addition to Reinbold’s resignation, West Bonner’s leadership has undergone several changes in recent years. Voters recalled former trustees Keith Rutledge and Susan Brown in August 2023; former Superintendent Branden Durst resigned in September 2023 after serving in the role for only five months.
Pound will serve for the remainder of Reinbold’s term, which expires in January 2028.