IDAHO, USA — Former Democratic lawmaker, former Republican candidate for State Superintendent, former employee of the Idaho Freedom Foundation, and still superintendent of the West Bonner County School District, Branden Durst, filed a tort claim on Wednesday, Feb. 28 against the Idaho State Board of Education and the Idaho Department of Education.
In the court documents, Durst claims when he was denied an emergency provisional certificate by the Idaho State Board of Education, he lost his job and earnings. The tort claim states he is looking for $1.25 million in monetary compensation.
As KTVB previously reported, in September 2023 Durst appeared to be moving on from his former position. He took to social media and stated he was looking for "an amicable and fair exit from my role as the superintendent."
He added that "[t]his decision has not been made lightly, and I am fully aware of the challenges and sentiments that have surrounded my brief tenure."
Durst took the job on June 28, 2023, however, prior and following to his appointment as superintendent, his ability to do the job was questioned and West Bonner School District held a summer series of heated school board and community meetings about Durst, his political affiliations, his history in politics and his education qualifications.
The school board began to see heavy criticism from the local community. Some were very unhappy Durst was appointed. Others vocally supported the move and the ideas Durst talked about. Durst had to apply for an emergency provisional certificate in order to take the position but the Idaho State Board of Education rejected the emergency application.
According to the state board, it was rejected because Durst did not fulfill the requirements to be a superintendent. Specifically, the four years of full-time certified employment in a school. These provisional certificates are granted by the board for one year, to allow a district to hire a teacher who hasn't yet earned the required training to be a teacher, but they are working on it or because the district just needs to hire a teacher in an emergency.
Durst was hired with an emergency plan in place. Until it wasn't. Currently, KTVB has not been able to confirm or deny Durst still has the position.
The state, and the board, have 90 days to respond to the claim.
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