Timberline High School teacher speaks out after being placed on paid leave by Boise School

A Timberline High School math teacher is speaking out after being placed on paid administrative leave by the Boise School District.

Laura Boulton spoke to CBS2 about the district’s decision by phone on Monday. Boulton says she is being unfairly targeted by the district for supporting her students and being vocal in her admonishment of what she perceives as a lack of progress on their behalf. Boulton says she assisted students in reporting allegations of assault, harassment, and other abuses to the district. Boulton says she helped proofread students' letters and edited them to sound professional. She says many of the students she helped feared they would not be taken seriously if their writing made them appear “childish.” In one case, Boulton tells CBS2 that she received a poor performance evaluation after helping a student file a report on December 7, 2021.

On September 14th, the district sent a letter to parents saying it placed Boulton on paid administrative leave while an investigation takes place.

The letter reads in part, “The limited information we are legally allowed to provide to parents, the public, and the media often leads to the rapid spread of speculation and misinformation. While we cannot publicly address every suspicion, allegation or complaint, we can provide the following facts regarding the current situation: 1. Any reports of sexual harassment or assault that have been brought to the attention of the District have been investigated in accordance with Federal Title IX law and District Title IX policies and procedures. Protecting students is always the centerpiece of these investigations. 2. The rumors and speculation circulating in the media, about why Ms. Boulton is on administrative leave, are not correct. Ms. Boulton was not placed on administrative leave for reporting acts of sexual assault and/or harassment, or any other report from Ms. Boulton regarding harassment, bullying or abuse. She was also not placed on leave for any behaviors that occurred prior to 2023. 3. The teacher evaluation that is being circulated by a student and shared with the media outlets and social media is not Ms. Boulton’s actual evaluation that is in her personnel file, nor was it ever placed in her personnel file.”

Some students and parents have protested the district’s decision to place Boulton on paid administrative leave. A parent emailed CBS2 saying she is concerned about the rotating number of substitute teachers filling in for Boulton in her absence and its impact on her child. The parent says she obtained copies of letters sent to Boulton explaining why she was placed on administrative leave.

In one of the letters shared by the parent, the school district said it received six complaints filed against the teacher. "One formal complaint received today alleges that you have repeatedly undermined colleagues, academic programs, spread misinformation to students and staff, manipulated students, harassed colleagues, and preyed upon vulnerable youth for your own purposes. The second formal complaint received today alleges creating a hostile environment by retaliating against staff members, and their families."

The letter from the district also said, "I am also writing to urge you to refrain from any behavior that could be considered retaliatory, and the disclosure of confidential student information. The parents of two students have contacted the District complaining that their children are being harassed at school directly because of your behavior. Staff members have registered similar complaints."

CBS2 reached out to Boise School District for a response, and this is what we received:

We can confirm that Ms. Boulton was placed on leave for the reasons specifically outlined in the leave letters provided to parents and referenced in the CBS news report posted on September 26, 2023. The allegations regarding Ms. Boulton that required the District to place her on leave are unrelated to any incidents of inappropriate sexual relationships with students. Under Idaho Code and Boise School District policy, grooming behaviors are not strictly defined as sexual in nature. The full definition is below, but grooming can occur in several ways. Simply put, it is a process where an adult builds a relationship, trust, and emotional connection with a young person so they can manipulate and exploit them. Grooming behaviors such as these create an environment unsafe for both the targeted students and fellow staff members. As referenced in the documents provided to parents, these are part of the allegations under investigation while Ms. Boulton is on leave.

One of the actions listed in a letter obtained by CBS2 from the Boise School District to Laura Boulton in regards to her paid administrative leave cites grooming behaviors. When we requested a response from the school district, we also asked them to address that allegation directly as well, and to clarify what exactly they meant by it in the letter. The allegation of grooming in this case is not meant in a sexual nature.

Boulton has announced that she will be holding a press conference on Thursday afternoon. CBS2 will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.

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