Students voice frustration over bomb threats

BONNERS FERRY — The Bonners Ferry High School assembly about a rash of bomb threats went like this:

How many of you are embarrassed by the bomb threats? How many believe in the value of education instead of walking to another school? How many of you have heard complaints from the community?

Raise your hand.

The majority of high school students raised their hands in response to these questions last week at an assembly held because of the bomb threats.

“This is no longer acceptable,” said Kody Rice, senior class president. “I am embarrassed to be a part of it. We come here to learn.”

The High School Leadership Group held the assembly in hope of a new perspective on the situation. Law enforcement, school board trustees, school administrators and community members were in attendance, telling students the issue is affecting the community and a solution must be found.

Guest speakers, including students, teachers and community members, spoke to the students about the consequences of the bomb threats and their future as citizens in Boundary County.

“I am fed up with the bomb threats,” said Brittany Shields, a student at the high school.

Shields’ 13-year-old brother called in a bomb threat to his school in Washington as a joke. She explained what consequences her brother is facing, including probation, community service, fines and weekly mental classes.

“His whole school career is ruined,” said Shields. “I hope you think about the consequences before you do it (a bomb threat).”

County Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Tevis Hull discussed the judicial process and the consequences a student could face. Depending on the charge, a juvenile could spend five to 25 years in the state penitentiary and potentially be tried as an adult.

“If we are able to find out who did this, we will go to the full measure,” said Hull. “This is a very serious matter … stop this nonsense that is going on. A few people are controlling the masses.”

Hull emphasized how the bomb threats are leading to a bad reputation for the community, as did teacher Judy Wages.

After attending a conference in Boise earlier this month, Wages told students she was embarrassed to tell others she taught in Bonners Ferry because of the bomb threat.

Wages talked about how the bomb threats prevent her from doing an effective job as a teacher as well as how the taxpayers are being ripped off.

“You are being deprived of an education. You are victims,” said Wages. “The only way to stop it is from you — the student body. We must all stand together against the victimizers.”

“You cannot reach excellence if you are not in the classroom,” said Bonners Ferry Mayor David Anderson. “We want you to grow. We want you to thrive.”

Anderson expounded on the time being spent away from the classroom, while teacher Paul Bonnell talked about finding a sense of purpose.

“I know many of you have a remarkable sense of purpose and are trying to discover who you are,” said Bonnell. “All those get diminished when we have these situations.”

“People agree that this needs to end,” said senior Belle Wages, Associated Student Body president. “We are the only ones who can fix this.”