School trustee's residency resolved
COEUR d'ALENE — A Wednesday evening meeting of the Coeur d’Alene School District Board of Trustees with a discussion of Trustee Allie Anderton’s residency on the agenda was canceled after Anderton responded to district inquiries about whether she was living in the zone in which she was elected to serve.
Anderton responded Tuesday. In an email to Board Chair Rebecca Smith she wrote that according to Idaho code 34-107, her residency remains at the Wolf Lodge area address where she lived when elected.
“The claims being made against me are untrue. Idaho code 34-107 defines residence, and temporary accommodations do not qualify as a new residence. It is my present intention to return to my home when the divorce is final,” Anderton wrote, according to a school district news release.
The school district detailed the timeline of events leading to the meeting cancellation.
The board received an email Thursday, Oct. 12, from a community member living in Anderton’s zone who was concerned Anderton had moved out of the zone. The community member stated this concern was based on the state’s court records index, which indicated Anderton was served divorce papers in August at a residence other than her Wolf Lodge area home.
The community member's email prompted the board chair and district administration to contact Anderton seeking written confirmation that she continued to reside in her zone.
“As this matter does not meet the criteria for an executive session, the discussion was scheduled for an open, public board meeting,” said the district’s news release. “The special meeting was called on Monday, Oct. 16, 2023, because, at that time, the board had still not received a written response confirming Trustee Anderton’s residency within Zone 1 and Idaho Code requires that a school board act to declare a vacancy when a trustee has moved out of their zone.”
The school district’s legal counsel confirmed that Idaho Code does allow for a temporary absence from one’s primary residence, provided the individual intends to return to the residence.
“After careful consideration of Trustee Anderton’s response and consultation with the district’s legal counsel, I am comfortable with Trustee Anderton’s explanation and statement of intent to return to her residence in Zone 1,” Smith said, in the release. “Therefore, we will not proceed with a special meeting today to discuss the matter. We will continue to work through the issue with Trustee Anderton to ensure compliance with applicable board policies and state statutes regarding trustee residency."
Smith said that at no time was the situation personal or an attack on Anderton.
“I have no desire to discuss sensitive and personal matters in a public forum. I have a great deal of respect for Trustee Anderton’s privacy and empathy for her as she manages through a difficult life challenge,” Smith said. “That said, as board chair, I am duty-bound to uphold state law and board policy concerning matters in front of us. In this case, without a clear response from Trustee Anderton about her residency, I made the decision to begin the conversation via a special meeting.”
