Basically, the school was protecting the bullies and took issue with the victim not being submissive toward the bullies. The victim took all correct steps until there were no more correct steps. The school continued to protect bullies and sent the message that victims must stay docile.
The cops made different decision. It might have been better for everyone, including the perpetrators, if the school focused on raising the boys not be bullies rather then focusing on enabling them.
Not to say much good about the school district's actions here - but schools are facing de facto impossible situations on stuff like this.
If I was a superintendent, I'd try to ban all student smart phones & such from school property and events - just on the basis that I had nothing remotely resembling the staffing, skill set, or jurisdiction to possibly deal with such things.
The impossible situation was that the school had no evidence of bullying but they did have evidence of the girl fighting back. This kind of asymmetric situation interacts poorly with zero-tolerance policies that many schools have.
The school did not even tried. They just assumed the girl lied. When they found out the bullying was true and that girl tried to report it ... they still expelled the girl and let boys be.
The school had better options available.
I will go out and say that the school simply played out traditional believes. First, punishing victim to striking back or defending himself/herself is easier, victim should not make noise. And second, boys matter more, it is normal boyhood for them to bully girls who are reaching above their station if they defend themselves.
The first belief is non gendered, applies to any victim.
People are mobile. Push them hard enough and they'll just go elsewhere when presented the chance. They're seeing this with OB/GYN medical people, and it's just going to get worse if there's no correction in behaviour or laws.
I guess they'll just accept the suicides of those unable to go elsewhere as the price of freedom?
The cops made different decision. It might have been better for everyone, including the perpetrators, if the school focused on raising the boys not be bullies rather then focusing on enabling them.