Boise School District reaches $400K settlement agreement with former Timberline teacher

BOISE — Last year, Laura Boulton, a math teacher at Timberline High School, faced several allegations from the Boise School District that she spread misinformation to students and staff, manipulated students and “preyed upon vulnerable youth for her own purposes.”

Now, Boulton is back and working with the district again. Sort of.

On July 11, BSD agreed to pay Boulton $400,000 as part of a settlement agreement. In exchange, Boulton voluntarily submitted her letter of resignation to the district and acknowledged that she would not be eligible for future employment with the district ever again.

However, as part of the agreement, Boulton will participate in an executive-level committee at BSD to help organize and train teachers on appropriate boundaries in student and staff relationships. According to the settlement agreement, the committee will begin by September and Boulton will remain a member of the committee until it disbands. The position is unpaid.

“I am excited to begin my work with the committee next month and look forward to helping make our schools safer for our kids and my colleagues,” Boulton said. “I am proud of my district for offering me this opportunity and focusing on continued improvement.”

The settlement agreement comes after Boulton filed a tort claim against the district. She was placed on administrative leave in September 2023, shortly before the Idaho Press published a story detailing 10 students’ experiences with alleged assault and their ability to confide in Boulton.

Boulton was placed on administrative leave according to Administrative Leave Board Policy 5210, which states that a Boise School District employee may be placed on paid administrative leave if they are involved in alleged misconduct like violating a rule of the State Board of Education, Code of Ethics for Idaho Professional Educators, district policy or created an immediate threat to student, self or staff safety.

The district’s choice was met with confusion by parents and students, who turned up to a school board meeting in September in search of answers . Several Timberline High students walked out of school to show their support.

Regarding the recent settlement and her place on the district’s committee, Boulton described the offer as an “olive branch dipped in gold.”

Boulton added that she didn’t ask for a seat on the committee.

The committee will be composed of Boulton and members of the district’s executive team, BSD Communications Manager Ryan Hill said.

“The separation agreement was reached through mediation between Mrs. Boulton, the District and our insurer. Mediation in situations like this is not uncommon,” Hill wrote to the Idaho Press.

According to Hill, the district is responsible for paying 25% of the $400,000 and their insurer is covering 75%. If Boulton doesn’t adhere to the settlement agreement, she said she’d likely be sued and would be required to give back $400,000.

“I wanted peace and I got it,” Boulton said. “...The district made amends with me.”

As part of the settlement agreement, both the district and Boulton agreed to not pursue any action against the other in any forum.

“Boulton and the District mutually agree that they will not, nor have anyone on their behalf or with their consent make any public statement, written or oral, or take any public action that is disparaging about, or that could reasonably be construed as disparaging to any party,” the settlement agreement reads. “Ms. Boulton agrees to respond to any inquiry that she has amicably resolved issues with the district and looks forward to working collaboratively with the District.”

Two sections of the settlement agreement between the district and Boulton were redacted by the district.

Boulton’s resignation was approved by the Boise School Board during its meeting on Aug. 12.

Boulton will continue working on her doctorate in education, which she is set to complete in December 2025. In the future, Boulton said she could see herself substitute teaching for other local school districts, but has no plans to get a new teaching position any time soon.