Support Victoria Horn's Documentary for Safer Schools

Let me be the first to say, I’m a big promoter of public schools and a proud product of the Boise School District.

Hi! My name is Victoria Horn. I graduated from Timberline High School in 2007, and while my experience in the BSD was a positive one, I do remember a lot of rumors of inappropriate conduct during my time within it. At the time, I chalked these up to typical high school experiences, but years later, emphasized by recent events, I’m reflecting more critically on those moments. The following highlights a documentary film project I’m very passionate about but will delve into a few sensitive topics, so I’ll preface this with a few content/trigger warnings: sexual assault, harassment, and sexual misconduct with minors.

Here’s the Problem:

The Boise School District leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to transparency around some of its staff/educators, which poses a big problem for a very vulnerable population: The children of Idaho. Even through the last year, we’ve heard stories of teachers reporting crimes, only to be placed on some form of administrative leave, but we hear nothing about the actions taken against the teachers, coaches, and/or administrative staff who actually committed the crimes.

Why? How are there so many anecdotal comments on every news post about this type of story, but zero reports on any active investigations into their accuracy or legitimacy? Why is the only case brought forward recently simply dismissed before jury selection?

In searching for answers, I found one reporter, Andi Petersen of the Idaho Crime Squad, who seemed to be as concerned as I am about what’s not being shared about the district. So, naturally, she was a great person to partner with, and I’m proud to say she’s agreed to come on board and help with this project! If you’d like more detail on some of the issues plaguing the BSD within just the last year, I recommend visiting her channel and reviewing her playlist dedicated to the Boise School District.

It’s become apparent to me that the Boise School District has a problem with predators lurking within it. And for some reason, there also appears to be reluctance around policy changes to remove them from their positions of authority over children. My goal is to create a documentary highlighting the issues I see within the district, where some of the largest problems lie, and showcase some ways forward to make the school district a safe place for the youth of Idaho. So, let’s get down to the details!

What This Documentary Isn’t:

First and foremost, this documentary isn’t a slander campaign against the district. This isn’t a way to shame everyone in the schools, and this isn’t even a slap in the face of public schools as a whole. I’ll happily reiterate that I’m a proud believer in public schools, and wouldn’t be the woman, or the filmmaker, that I am today without that experience.

What This Documentary Is:

A detailed, investigative report on issues of sexual misconduct within the Boise School District.

Why This Documentary Matters:

The investigation so far, while in its early stages, is concerning - with some unaddressed individuals and reports going as far back as the 80s. There appears to be a breakdown in communication between reports being filed, and any type of ethics board review of those individuals who’ve been reported. Many instructors, with multiple allegations and reports filed against them, still have a valid teaching certificate. While some are still actively teaching within the district, or other local schools, others are free to leave the area without any of these reports following them to their new locations (frequently called a “pass the trash” approach, which some states have already enacted legislation to prevent—no, Idaho isn’t one of them, yet!) There are even several survivors who have come forward so far and shared stories of threats from district representation if they pursued legal action against their perpetrators.

Saying this is troubling puts it mildly.

While it would be easy to say that “charter/private schools are the only answer” or the more dramatic “burn everything and start over, the system failed us,” I don’t think that’s the right solution. I think the best way forward is to showcase what a serious issue this is, and how the “pass the trash” approach leaves children in all schools at risk. I want to give survivors a safe place to share their stories and, hopefully, see positive change and catharsis come of it. I want to demand policy change from our legislators and a more thorough investigation of the reported individuals. I want perpetrators who take advantage of young, at-risk, and/or impressionable children to have to answer to the Idaho state code instead of being reassigned to some administrative job, hidden away within the district. At the end of the day, I want the Boise School District to be something worth bragging about to people considering raising children here.

What I Need From You:

Telling a story like this takes time, money, and energy, and I don’t have the resources to do it solo. I want to be thorough in the investigation, which means hiring the right people with the right certifications to do that well. I want the story to be well-executed, which means hiring a crew to work with me that’s talented, professional, and empathetic. I want the story shared with a wide audience, which means paying for submissions to film festivals and supplementary post-production efforts. All in all, filmmaking is never cheap, and a story as impactful as this one deserves to be told well.

Normally I would put a film fundraising effort like this up on a film-centric fundraising platform, but those often come with “perks” like behind-the-scenes footage, signed scripts and posters, etc. Due to the nature of this project, and my commitment to the privacy of all the survivors, I can’t offer those things. I can’t say that by giving money to this project you’ll get any “insider” information about the filmmaking process, or collectibles from the set, but that doesn’t mean I want you walking away empty-handed.

For the people who donate at least a dollar, you’ll receive a link to view the final product once it’s done. For anyone who donates $25 or more, you’ll also receive an invite to a private screening, hosted locally in or around Boise, ID, where we’ll also have a Q&A panel after the screening. Please make sure that you use the "Contact Us" button on this fundraiser to send us a message with your email address so we can get you on the list! (Whether your donation is anonymous or not, this platform doesn't collect email addresses automatically, and we don't want anyone to miss out!)

While the guest list is still being finalized, Andi Petersen has already agreed to moderate it. The producers of the film (myself included) will be there, and we’ll be inviting people from the Boise School District, such as their superintendent and general legal counsel to also join in and voice their thoughts on the project. We’re expecting a solid turnout and are already looking forward to a productive conversation about what the BSD plans to do moving forward!

Another way to help would be to get the word out about this project! It’s a big undertaking, and all the support we can get (moral, social, or financial) is greatly appreciated! Additionally, if you were or are a student of the Boise School District, and you would like to share your own story, please send me an email, I'd love to hear from you:

PassingTheIdahoTrash[at gmail dot com]

I’ll happily stick to any level of anonymity that makes you feel comfortable, but the more we know about problems of this nature within the district, the more comprehensive we can make this project.

As a final note, thanks for reading along this far! Your time and interest are encouraging.