BOISE, Idaho (CBS2) — Timberline High School students plan to walk out Thursday to support a suspended teacher.
CBS2 is continuing to investigate after a math teacher, Laura Boulton, was placed on paid administrative leave sparking controversy in the community.
Mrs. Boulton held her own press conference on Thursday of last week. In the hour-plus-long press conference, Boulton addresses what she says is a string of sexual abuse and abuse cases that were reported to Timberline and the school district, but were not investigated or handled properly.
Boulton said the district placed her on leave and is investigating allegations against her for undermining colleagues and academic programs, along with spreading misinformation to students and staff, manipulating students, harassing colleagues, and preying upon vulnerable youth. The district has confirmed with CBS2 that Boulton is on administrative leave for those reasons.
However, Boulton says she was placed on leave after helping a student with a mandatory report of sexual assault. Boulton says she has helped several students in this manner, and the district has not acted in good faith to investigate or even help the students who made the claims.
The Boise School District says that Boulton's leave is not related to any allegations or reports filed about sexual assault or abuse, and refers us back to the statement released by the district prior to the press conference.
A senior at Timberline High School who spoke briefly at Boulton's press conference called for a statewide student-led walkout this Thursday.
We have continued to reach out to the district throughout this investigation. The school board members referred us to the spokesman for the district, he referred us to the statement he released on Thursday. The superintendent has not responded to any of our emails.
Boulton tells CBS2 that she has not heard from the district.
As for what happens to the students who choose to walk out later this week in protest, the district has not responded to our requests for information.
We will continue to update this story as we gather more information.
