RBS School on Lockdown After Parent Confronts Alleged Bully

Stephen Hollis

By Jessie Williams

Red Boiling Springs School was put on lockdown last Thursday, February 29, after a parent entered the school and confronted a juvenile student that he says has been bullying his child. 

According to a report written by RBS Elementary School SRO Mark Bartley, the incident occurred in the RBS High School pickup line at the gym entrance, when 43-year-old Stephen David Hollis saw a male juvenile that he believed had been bullying his son. 

Officer Bartley stated that, according to video and witnesses, Hollis became irate, cussing and yelling at the juvenile before hitting and kicking a school door.

When Mr. Hollis entered the school, staff members and students were in fear, and the school was put on lockdown as soon as he stepped back outside. 

According to a social media post by the Macon County School District, students who had been loaded onto buses were removed and returned back into the school until the area was deemed safe.

The RBS High School SRO was not at the school during the incident, and RBS Elementary SRO Bartley stepped in to investigate.

Officer Bartley was able to obtain a warrant for Hollis’ arrest and he was detained without incident at his home.

A Chronicle representative spoke with Mr. Hollis following the incident and he relayed his side of the story, stating that he and his wife arrived at the school as usual to pick up their son. Mr. Hollis says he walked up to the door to escort his son, who wears leg braces, to the vehicle when his son’s alleged bully began provoking him through the window by “shooting him the bird” and talking to him through the door. 

That’s when Mr. Hollis says he kicked and hit the door, yelling back at the juvenile. 

He claims that’s when another student opened the door for him, at which time a yelling match ensued. He also stated he never saw a student resource officer during the entire incident. 

He recounted that when principal Jones arrived, he told Hollis he needed to leave, at which time he apologized and left the school.

Hollis said principal Jones and Director of Macon County Schools Shawn Carter have been made aware of bullying incidents between his son and two certain juveniles on numerous occasions.  

RBS High School Principal Don Jones stated that he has been contacted by Mr. Hollis with accusations of students bullying his son, but the school has no evidence of these incidents.

Hollis was charged with reckless endangerment. His bond was set at $3,000, and he is scheduled to appear in general sessions court on March 20, 2024.