Teachers carrying guns? Fresno County school districts have mixed views

Kingsburg Joint Union High School District trustees approved a policy this week to allow teachers to carry guns on campus – but there’s no sign that other districts in Fresno County plan to follow Kingburg’s lead anytime soon.

Fresno Unified pointed to various safety measures, including the use of school resource officers, campus safety assistants and a partnership with Fresno police as superior options to having armed teachers in class.

“This allows our site administration and teachers to do what they do best – educate our students,” FUSD spokesman Miguel Arias said Tuesday.

But Fresno Unified Trustee Brooke Ashjian said he would support a policy similar to Kingsburg High’s.

“I’m a big believer in the Second Amendment. I think everybody should carry,” Ashjian said. “If teachers are armed, it’s just one more level of security and comfort to our students.”

Clovis Unified is against the idea.

“We have long invested in our own police force to ensure that we have officers on our campuses who are properly trained and prepared to protect our schools,” Clovis Unified spokeswoman Kelly Avants said Tuesday. “We do not feel that allowing general staff to carry a weapon on campus is in the best interest of our students.”

Kingsburg High’s policy allows up to five employees to carry guns on school grounds. A Kingsburg High staffer who wants to be able to have a gun on campus must complete training approved by Superintendent Randy Morris. A staff member’s discipline record, evaluation and conduct will also be taken into account.

The district acted in response to Senate Bill 707, which went into effect Jan. 1 and prohibits guns on school campuses unless the superintendent grants permission.

Fresno law firm Lozano Smith has offered workshops to area school leaders on the implications of SB 707 and “best practices when considering implementation or prevention of a firearms program,” according to the firm’s website.

“In the last few months, we’ve had a lot of interest,” said Lozano Smith attorney Ashley Emerzian. “Most districts are looking for a local approach with the changes (SB 707) brought about, and that takes some time.”

In addition to Kingsburg High, Kerman Unified leaders also attended one of the SB 707 trainings. But Kerman Superintendent Robert Frausto is not yet sold on the idea of teachers toting guns.

“At this point, I can’t tell you what Kerman is going to do. But we’re trying to understand what the law is and what the changes are,” he said. “We’ll have some more conversations. It’s opened up a lot of questions, like, who would you allow to carry and what criteria do you use?”

Fowler Unified Superintendent Eric Cederquist said his district has not considered the idea, but “like all things in education, one never says never.”

Central Unified did not take a clear stance.

“CUSD takes school safety very seriously, working closely with local law enforcement as well as training staff on safety issues and awareness through ongoing education with school district leadership and support staff,” spokeswoman Sonja Dosti said.

Kingsburg teachers – including Dina Siebenaler, president of the district’s union – have declined to comment on the gun policy.

The Fresno County Office of Education is also staying quiet: “Because this is a decision at their school board level, (Superintendent Jim Yovino) would like to direct all comments on their decision to them,” a spokeswoman said Tuesday.

The state Department of Education does not track which schools have since chosen to create policies to allow guns, but Kingsburg leaders have used Folsom Cordova Unified, east of Sacramento, as an example.

There, guns are not allowed in classrooms and are stored in a safe in case of an emergency, and select administrators – not teachers – have access to the weapons.

This story was originally published April 12, 2016 at 6:55 PM with the headline "Teachers carrying guns? Fresno County school districts have mixed views."