The alleged sexual assault in the boys’ locker room at the Snowflake High School (SHS) last November is prompting the Snowflake Unified School District (SUSD) to address bullying and review previous policies.
For many years SUSD has provided students with anti-bullying training in the form of assemblies and with school principals teaching individual classes and groups. SUSD Superintendent Hollis Merrell said, “When we had a school resource officer, that person presented training on bullying at both the high school and junior high. When funding for that position was eliminated, the junior high implemented their own program to help train students each year.”
In fact, in October of 2017, just prior to the alleged sexual assault, the Snowflake Intermediate School had an anti-bullying assembly.
Last year, SHS students had an assembly and training on anti-bullying. There was also an assembly encouraging them to report things they know about even when it involves a friend. Earlier in the current school year ChangePoint Integrated Health, a local mental health care provider, provided anti-bullying training to all of the fall sports teams.
In response to the alleged sexual assault in November, SUSD took the opportunity to review current strategies for anti-bullying. At the high school level the students themselves can make all the difference. Merrell said, “The key at the high school really lies with the student council and students themselves. They have really taken ownership of the school and what happens with the students.”
The SHS student council recently initiated a No Labels movement and is planning upcoming activities including an assembly. Children sometimes get labeled due to differences or disabilities and it can sometimes make them feel alienated. Doing away with labels may help students feel included. An email tip line has also been created at the school where tips can go directly to the principal. The email address for that tip line is SHS_Hotline@snowflake.k12.az.
SUSD encourages parents to talk to their children about appropriate behaviors and to report anything they see that is inappropriate. “We are fortunate to have an overwhelming number of students who want to do the right thing and care about those around them. That doesn’t mean that we don’t and won’t have bullying or other issues to address,” said Merrell.
In association with the alleged sexual assault, SHS student Joey Farrell Fish, 18, of Taylor, was charged by a Navajo County grand jury with unlawful imprisonment, and two counts each of kidnapping and sexual abuse. Fellow student Cody Callender, 18, also of Taylor, was charged with unlawful imprisonment.
