Open government concern: Bakersfield school district fast tracks guns for teachers policy

The Kern High School District board voted to allow teachers to possess concealed firearms in the classroom amid criticism that the vote may have violated the Brown Act, California’s open government law. The vote took place after only a first reading during a special mid afternoon meeting with 26 hours notice that teachers could not attend prompting a teacher representative to complain that the board showed no interest in transparency or in including the public in the decision. (KQED News, November 18, 2016, by John Sepulvado)

The Brown Act allows only 24 hours notice for a special meeting, but community members said the action still reflected a lack of transparency and poor management. The board fast tracked the vote to allow a trustee who favored concealed guns to vote before he left the board. (Bakersfield.com, November 18, 2016, by Harold Pierce)