BOISE, Idaho — A former Boise School District student has filed a tort claim seeking more than $1 million in damages, alleging that administrators failed to protect her from years of bullying, harassment, and abuse.
Ashley Green and her mother, Emma, filed the notice of claim on Sept. 8. They allege that between 2015 and 2023, Ashley reported repeated incidents of bullying and threats at Trail Wind Elementary, Les Bois Junior High, and Timberline High School, but say the district did not do enough to intervene.
WATCH: Former student speaks exclusively with Idaho News 6 about their $1M tort claim against Boise schools.
“I went up to [the principal at Trail Wind Elementary], and I was like, 'hey, this is happening still. I don’t know what to do. It’s ruining my life. I don’t want to be alive because of this,'” Ashley Green recounted in an interview.
Her mother, Emma Green, said Ashley’s concerns were too often brushed aside, even though she says her daughter was a constant presence on campus, often volunteering and meeting with staff.
“She just didn’t feel like she was being taken seriously,” Emma said.
The claim describes Ashley’s elementary years at Trail Wind, where she alleges the principal dismissed her pleas for help and, at times, physically struck her or dragged her to the office, leaving marks.
“She would drag me from my classroom or from recess into her office, and it would leave marks on me,” Ashley said.
By junior high, Ashley says a close friend sexually harassed her and once held a knife to her back in the science lab, warning her not to tell anyone. The family claims district staff failed to notify law enforcement or effectively enforce Title IX protections.
“And telling my child that boys will be boys— that’s not acceptable behavior,” Emma said.
The filing says the bullying continued at Timberline High School, where Ashley was suspended after calling a bully’s parent for help.
The Boise School District declined to comment on the tort claim, citing pending litigation. In a statement, district spokesperson Dan Hollar said the district takes the safety and well-being of students seriously and has policies and training in place to respond to reports of bullying and abuse.
Ashley and her mother say they hope their claim encourages other students to come forward.
The Boise School District gave the following statement to Idaho News 6:
"The Boise School District is aware of the tort claim filed by former student Ashley Green. We want to reassure our community that we approach concerns of this nature with the utmost care and responsibility.
The safety, well-being, and dignity of every student are our highest priorities. We take all allegations of bullying, harassment, or abuse seriously. The District has long standing policies, training, and practices to prevent harassment, to encourage and support reporting, and to respond promptly and appropriately, in full compliance with Idaho law.
While we recognize the seriousness of the allegations, it is important to emphasize that at this stage they remain allegations. As with any legal matter, it is vital to allow a full and fair review of the facts.
For clarity, a tort claim in Idaho is a notice of intent to seek compensation for alleged wrongs. It is not a finding of fault or wrongdoing. The allegations outlined are precisely that — allegations — and have not been tested, adjudicated or proven in court.
Because these allegations involve a student’s confidential records, the District is barred by federal law from discussing the matter without the student’s consent. While that limits what we can share publicly, we want to reassure parents, students, staff, and our community that we remain steadfast in our commitment to safe schools, respectful and supportive environments, and the trust you place in us to care for your children.
The Boise School District will continue to uphold its values of transparency, responsibility, and service to our community."
