Curriculum director resigns after history resurfaces

KELLOGG — The Kellogg and Wallace school districts are once again in need of a curriculum director after the Kellogg School Board accepted the resignation of former director Ryan Bryson amid a controversy surrounding his past.

Bryson, 38, was hired at Kellogg High School prior to the 2016-17 school year as a math teacher before accepting the position of curriculum director.

Bryson’s resignation came after reports surfaced from a 2012 incident where he pled guilty to strangulation and aggravated battery.

His guilty plea in January 2013 involved the dismissal of aggravated assault, battery, intentional destruction of a telephone line or instrument and false imprisonment charges — all stemming from allegations that he had beaten and threatened to kill an ex-girlfriend while she was inside his Moscow apartment.

A probable cause affidavit submitted with the court charges state that the victim had gone to Bryson’s apartment in July 2012 and confronted him about another woman.

When the victim threatened to call friends, Bryson struck her with a .38-caliber revolver.

The report also states he attempted to strangle her in two locations in his apartment, stomped on her chest, broke her cellphone and tried to make her undress and cover herself in garbage bags while threatening to kill her.

Bryson then reportedly took the victim home after letting her sleep in his apartment, which is when she checked into Gritman Medical Center for her injuries and police were contacted.

Following his admission of guilt, he was required to serve three years in prison before he was eligible for parole, which means he would have been released just months before applying for and accepting the position with the Kellogg School District.

KSD Superintendent Nancy Larsen was unable to speak specifically on the matter, as there is privacy protecting personnel issues, but the question has been raised as to how Bryson was able to be hired despite his previous criminal history.

According to Kellogg School District policy 421: All certificated and non-certificated employees, including substitute staff and individuals involved in student training such as practicums and internships, hired after July 1, 2008, shall undergo a criminal history check as required by Idaho Code Section 33-130.

A record of all background checks will be maintained by the Idaho State Department of Education in a data bank for all employees of this district, with a copy going to the employee if so requested.

The district will obtain the results of each employee’s background check from the Department and will review such results to determine if, based on the results the employee should be terminated, dismissed, or subject to other personnel action.

For the purposes of this policy, “employee” is defined as those individuals hired by this district and paid a salary or wages from which federal and state income taxes are withheld.

The district will not hire individuals, and will terminate or dismiss employees who have been convicted of:

1. The aggravated assault of a child, or the assault with intent to commit a serious felony against a child;

2. The aggravated battery of a child, or the battery with intent to commit a serious felony against a child;

3. The injury or death of a child;

4. The sexual abuse of a child under sixteen (16) years of age;

5. The ritualized abuse of a child under eighteen (18) years of age;

6. The sexual exploitation of a child;

7. Possession of photographic representations of sexual conduct involving a child;

8. Lewd conduct with a child under the age of sixteen (16);

9. Sexual battery of a minor child sixteen (16) or seventeen (17) years of age;

10. The sale or barter of a child for adoption or other purposes;

11. The murder of a child, or the voluntary manslaughter of a child;

12. The kidnapping of a child;

13. The importation or exportation of a juvenile for immoral purposes;

14. The abduction of a person under eighteen (18) years of age for prostitution;

15. The rape of a child.

Referencing the available information on Bryson’s previous charges, no Kellogg School District policies were violated with his hiring.

It is unknown if Bryson lied on his application, or former administrators failed to have his background check completed or they simply weren’t concerned by his record.

Even with his resignation, Bryson will continue to be paid for the remainder of the year, but will no longer be working for the Kellogg School District.

According to Larsen, “it is sometimes more cost-effective for the district to pay the remainder of a contract rather than pursue the legal course of voiding of a contract.”

Upon learning of Bryson’s resignation, Wallace School District Superintendent Bob Rannells wished Bryson well in whatever he chooses to pursue, but stressed that the school was moving forward.

“We are closing the third quarter of our academic year and the final quarter is full of testing and assessments, so we will be focusing on those activities,” Rannells said.

At this time, the position of curriculum director is being performed by many of the various administrators within the districts, but they do plan on advertising the opening for the position as soon as possible so that a replacement may be hired before the next school year.

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Information from a 2013 Moscow-Pullman Daily News article contributed to this report.