.png)
PRIEST RIVER –Kim Spacek has accepted a superintendent job with the West Bonner County School District, the fifth person to fill the position since Paul Anselma left in 2022, although two superintendents have been in interim roles.
“Mr. Kim Spacek has accepted the position of WBCSD Superintendent, pending final approval of the contract and addendum by the Board at the Monday, June 17th, regular board meeting,” board of trustees chair Margaret Hall said. She said she and trustee Kathy Nash were authorized by the board to negotiate the terms of the contract, which needs to be approved by the full board.
Spacek has eastern Washington roots. He went to high school at St. George’s in Spokane, says Dennis Flanagan, who has been friends with Spacek for 40 years.
“Kim and I attended Boy’s State between our Junior and Senior years,” says Flanagan, a 1977 Selkirk graduate. “We’ve been friends since.”
Flanagan says Spacek played basketball and baseball. St. George’s and Selkirk were Panorama League rivals.
Spacek attended Eastern Washington University, where he received a BA in Industrial Arts. He went on to get a master’s degree in industrial arts from the University of Idaho. He returned to EWU for his master’s degree in education.
Spacek, which is pronounced Spok, worked as superintendent and elementary principal at the Pomeroy School District in eastern Washington from 2008-2013. He was superintendent for the Inchelium School District on the Colville Indian Reservation from 20132023.
Most recently, he has been superintendent of the Mountain View School District in Grangeville. He had a one-year contract there.
Spacek laid out some of his expectations when he’s superintendent to a group of interested community members June 3.
Safety, personal connections, no surprises and assisting in growth and teamwork were among Spacek’s expectations.
Before Spacek, Joe Kren served as interim superintendent. He took over from Branden Durst, who resigned after the state said he didn’t meet the state qualifications to be superintendent. Before Durst, Susie Luckey served as interim after Jacquelin Branum quit. She was hired to replace Anselmo.
Durst confirmed that he has taken legal action against the West Bonner County School District but wouldn’t say what the legal action was about. He said it could be found publicly.
WBCSD interim superintendent Joe Kren again declined to comment when asked if Durst had a lawsuit against the district.
“With regards to Mr. Durst, it is an ongoing matter and respectfully, there is nothing the District can comment on at this time,” Kren said.
According to information on the iCourt Portal, Durst filed a civil suit in Bonner County District Court Feb. 29, 2024, with a demand for a jury trial. The case status is open and pending. Durst is represented by Ronald Robert Shephard and the school district is represented by Jamie K. Ellsworth and Anne Sullivan Magnelli.
