BOISE, Idaho — Three students from Eagle High School are speaking out and saying they endured years of racial harassment and bullying, and the school administration failed to address their concerns.
In response, the father of two of the girls is seeking legal action against the school, the West Ada School District, Ada County, and the City of Eagle to call attention to what he says is the root of the issue and to create change.
“Despite the good memories, it will always be masked with the bad ones,” EHS graduate Jaedynn Hodge told KTVB.
High school is meant to be a journey marked by memories and milestones. But Jaedynn, her little sister and Jaedynn’s friend Bella Cameron say high school became a struggle against persistent prejudice.
“There isn't a lot of people of color at our school,” Jaedynn said. “I don’t think we're the only ones have ever experienced it, I think we're the only ones that have ever been willing to speak up.”
The girls said classmates spew racial slurs, including the n-word, inside classrooms and hallways, at games and events, in the parking lot and on social media.
7 Investigates reviewed a few videos and photos posted on Snapchat, a popular social media platform, between Sep. 2023 and Jan. 2024, verifying teens are using racial slurs.
“Sophomore year when we went back to normal is when I started being called the n word frequently by other students,” Jaedynn said. “A kid started to annunciate the n word at me, and we were right in front of the teacher’s desk.”
7 Investigates asked how the girls feel when they are attacked by slurs.
“It's degrading. Obviously, it was made to degrade people of color, like black people,” Jaedynn said.
“It hurts a lot and it's really demeaning and it feels like whenever they say it to your face or whenever they call you that that's all you are,” Bella said. “[It] strips away a part of your identity it's hard not to give something like that power because it hurts a lot and there's a lot of power behind it.”
Bella and Jaedynn said teachers who witnessed the harassment didn’t reprimand or punish the students.
They said one of the teachers even used the n-word in history class when he was explaining what hip hop group NWA stood for and the derogatory names black military members were called when they returned from war.
The girls said multiple students reported the teacher’s behavior to school administrators, but they don’t believe anything happened.
If their classmates found out they reported an issue, the girls said they were bullied or threatened, creating a hostile and unsafe learning environment.
“I was just taught to tolerate it and just disregard it,” Jaedynn said.
Bella, Jaedynn and Jaedynn’s father Manzo went to school counselors and administrators multiple times over the last three years.
“Countless, countless times. And we wrote countless statements, they have them,” Bella added.
The Hodges provided 7 Investigates a recording of a meeting between their daughters and EHS Vice Principal Marc Lannon in December 2023.
During the meeting, Lannon acknowledged they had an incident last year but, “I don't remember every detail” and asked the girls to catch him up on what's been happening because “like last year, I want to squash it.”
The girls told Lannon a lot of athletes use racial slurs, and they want those kids held accountable. Lannon assured them that if he gets specific names, he will take action.
“Every time something happens, I want to know about it, and I think you've been great with communicating with me…. It's a high priority for me,” he said during the December meeting.
Manzo said each time they spoke with school administrators, they were assured they would handle situations.
”When we talked to them about what the teacher was saying in class, basically, they just say, the teacher got reprimanded and as you know, legally, we can't tell you what the reprimand was,” he said.
Despite these meetings, the Hodges don't believe school leaders did much, if anything, to protect the girls.
“I was so used to not having an outcome or not getting help or not feeling protected. I got used to being scared to go to school, begging my parents not to let me go,” Jaedynn said.
Bella switched to online school.
“I was just in a spot where I couldn't see it getting better. I couldn't see it changing and I knew it wouldn't change because it's just the culture they've created at the school,” Bella said. “At a certain point you start to feel defeated like nobody cares and there's nothing you can do.”
Manzo took it to the top in January of this year and met with the West Ada School District's Superintendent, Dr. Derek Bub, and their HR director.
“We had the conversation, we showed him a multitude of videos and messages that were actually online, and they were pretty bewildered,” Manzo said.
According to emails obtained by 7 Investigates, Dr. Bub told Manzo his team would "facilitate an appropriate investigation with effective corrective action.”
But the Hodges don't believe that "action" ever came.
When asked how the family knows nothing was done, Jaedynn responded, “there was no change. He told us he couldn't tell us the exact people who faced consequences but he could inform of us kind of the gist and we never heard anything.”
Manzo said he hasn’t received a call, email or text message since they were told the district was going to do something about the racial harassment and bullying.
Manzo felt he had to take it a step further so he and his attorney filed a notice of tort claim in June- that is the first step toward a lawsuit.
“It’s not for money at all. We don't want to put one penny in our pocket,” he said.
The family wants to create change to protect and support other Eagle High School students.
“It’s not only about the racism,” Jaedynn said. “I think it’s beyond that at this point. There is no accountability for when a teacher or student does anything wrong. Everything is swept under the rug.”
“I’m happy we’re bringing it to light because I don't want anybody else to have to go through what we went through,” Bella said.
7 Investigates reached out to the West Ada School District, but a spokesperson said they couldn't provide specific comments or details due to the pending tort claim.
They said the district is fully cooperating with the legal process and, "our priority, as always, remains the well-being and integrity of our students, staff, and community."
Manzo said if they settle or win money through a potential lawsuit, he wants to set up an independent hotline for kids to call if they need help with bullying, harassment, or discrimination.
Manzo said experts would assess the situation and recommend repercussions for other students or teachers.