The West Bonner School District Board of Trustees is inching closer to finalizing a contract with their pick for superintendent – a far-right political operative with no experience in education management.
Trustees opened Monday night’s meeting with a split 3-2 vote, allowing board chair Keith Rutledge to move forward a proposed contract from a subcommittee for Branden Durst as superintendent.
Durst, a former Boise Democratic lawmaker, resigned in 2013 after reports questioned whether he lived in his district or in western Washington.
He’s since worked for far-right lobbying groups like the Idaho Family Policy Center and Idaho Freedom Foundation.
The board would still need to approve the agreement before it’s finalized, which is scheduled for debate on Wednesday night.
As Idaho Education News reports, Durst would also need to obtain an emergency certificate to work as a superintendent from the State Board of Education.
Overall, Monday’s board meeting came in fits and starts.
Rutledge took multiple breaks in a back room during discussions about hiring an outside lawyer, each time leaving with his phone in-hand.
Trustee Carlyn Barton confronted Rutledge about his recesses.
“I would also like to have you disclose who you’ve been on the phone with, communicating with,” Barton said.
“I haven’t been talking to anybody,” Rutledge replied, with audience members vocally pushing back.
He then took a fourth, five-minute recess.
Barton unsuccessfully tried to select a lawyer through a competitive bidding process. Instead, it’ll be up to Rutledge’s discretion.
All of this comes amid budget trouble in the school district. Voters there rejected a $4.7 million supplemental levy in May, leading trustees to slash extra-curriculars and sports in next school year’s budget.
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