Education

School Returns Phones With Apology

Boise School spokesman Dan Hollar told the GUARDIAN Monday that school officials returned two student cell phones which were confiscated, “in the heat of the moment,” following an altercation in a hallway between a police officer and a student on Friday.



“We apologized to the students as their phones were returned and no images or other data was deleted from the phones,” said Hollar. He added that students using the cell phone cameras at Frank Church HS were not in violation of any school policy.

Here is the official District phone policy which is reviewed annually:

Personal Electronic Devices

The Board believes in the importance of a conducive learning environment for students. Student use of personal electronic devices may be disruptive to the learning environment. However, personal electronic devices may be used for educational purposes under the direction of the administrator or designee. Such use must comply with District policy Student Technology Use #3239.

Any student found using technology in District classrooms or hallways during the school day without permission from the principal or designee may have the device confiscated until the end of the day. Subsequent unauthorized use may result in the technology being confiscated until the end of the school year or until a parent/guardian claims it.



The video, which went viral on the internet, and subsequent postings by civil rights and constitutionalist-type web sites caused a lot of speculation and “student chatter” on social media as well.

The GUARDIAN is satisfied the public has now been adequately informed. While police and school administrators can take some pride in the massive and rapid response to the copper’s call for help, perhaps a more measured response would have led to less speculation and public concern.

SEE PREVIOUS POST FOR DETAILS LEADING UP TO TODAY’S STORY

HERE IS A PRESS RELEASE FROM BOISE PD:



Student charged with battery on officer

Monday, April 28

Boise Police officers and Boise School administrators are investigating an incident at a Boise high school Friday afternoon.

A 17-year-old student is in custody after an altercation at Frank Church High School on West Salt Creek Drive. The incident started at about 11:50 a.m. Friday when a school administrator asked the student to leave the school grounds because of an earlier disturbance. The 17-year-old refused, so the administrator called on the School Resource Officer standing down the hall for assistance.

The Boise Police SRO talked with the student and explained the need for him to leave the campus immediately, but the student refused. This was close to noon, so dozens of students were in the hallway in preparation for lunch.

The 17-year-old turned and attempted to walk toward classrooms. The SRO took the student by the arm to escort him out of the building, but the teen moved away from the officer abruptly. As the SRO attempted to take the student into custody, the 17-year-old started punching the officer in the face. Another employee, a 61-year-old man, who attempted to help the SRO was also punched by the student.

The SRO could not get control of the fighting student, so he radioed for help from nearby officers who responded immediately. The physical altercation lasted about three minutes before the student was taken into custody. Assisting officers were at the school for about 30 minutes until lunch was over and students were back in class.

The 17-year-old was booked into the Ada County juvenile detention facility on charges of battery on a law enforcement officer (a felony), battery and resisting/obstructing an officer (misdemeanors).

The student did not require medical treatment. The SRO and school employee who were battered received minor injuries.

The investigation into the incident continues. Because it involves a juvenile on school grounds, there is no other information available for release at this time.

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