Board Restructures Amid Electrical Safety Questions
The Panida Theater Board of Directors held its regular meeting July 7, approving a slate of new leadership appointments and accepting several resignations that have reshaped the organization’s governance structure over the past month.
Sean Behm stepped down as board chair but remained on the board as a director. Amy Flint accepted nomination as his successor. The board also appointed Chris Bessler as secretary and Steve Garvin as vice chair, with Tari Pardini taking on the role of treasurer.
The meeting marked the culmination of a period of significant staff and board departures. Heather White resigned as Executive Director effective mid-June, along with board directors Woody Sherwood and Rory Creigh. Charlotte Solly left her position effective June 22. The board approved all three new director appointments and accepted the resignations in a single motion.
Flint acknowledged the departing members’ contributions. “As many of you know, each of these individuals have a strong history with the Panida and considerable experience in the nonprofit sector as well,” she said.
Electrical Safety Concerns Prompted Departures
The wave of resignations followed concerns about the theater’s electrical systems that came to light at a June 4 board meeting. Those worries prompted the facility to close temporarily as a precautionary measure.
On June 9, three building inspectors examined the facility and found nothing the board characterized as “egregious and alarming.” Two subsequent state electrical inspections passed, and infrared inspections were also completed without issue.
Behm disputed characterizations of an electrical report from 2023 as evidence of an immediate safety problem. “The KWR report was a long-term planning document that was not an immediate life safety report,” he said.
Despite the inspections, an OSHA complaint related to electrical concerns was filed on June 27. White, the departing executive director, attended the July 7 meeting as a member of the public and contested the board’s assertions about the building’s electrical safety status, according to meeting records.
Board Delays Executive Director Search
Rather than immediately move to hire a replacement for White, the board decided to examine its current organizational structure. The decision suggests the board may be reconsidering executive roles and responsibilities before recruiting new staff.
The Panida Theater, located in downtown Sandpoint, has been a cultural institution in the community for decades. The recent leadership changes represent one of the most significant periods of organizational transition in recent years.
The board’s next steps will likely focus on clarifying the executive director position’s scope and determining the organization’s operational priorities moving forward. The decision to delay recruitment gives current leadership time to evaluate staffing needs in light of the departures and the questions raised about building maintenance and safety protocols.
What Comes Next
The Panida Theater Board will need to finalize a timeline for recruiting a new Executive Director and address any outstanding building maintenance issues identified during recent inspections. The organization’s new leadership team, along with remaining board members, will work to stabilize operations and chart a course forward for the historic venue.