Planada to talk concealed carry at school

Planada Elementary School District is in the process of updating its security plan, and among the options on the table is the possibility of allowing school administrators to carry guns.

The district’s superintendent, Jose Gonzalez, stressed that the board is nowhere near adopting a policy. The district is hosting an information meeting and “listening session” at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Cesar Chavez Middle School library to discuss options.

“We’re not arming everyone tomorrow,” Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez said the board likely won’t make a decision until early spring.

The district began discussing its options after a state law introduced last year prohibited concealed-weapon permit owners from bringing guns on school campuses unless they have permission from the superintendent. Board members indicated if they move forward with the policy, they’d only grant permission to upper-level staff, such as administrators, Gonzalez said.

The school board previously discussed the item at a number of meetings and is working with an Orange County-based consulting firm, Emergency Preparedness Group, Inc., to develop a school safety plan and research the policy of having administrators carry guns.

“The first time we presented it, it was a little shocking,” Gonzalez said. “The board felt they truly needed to go in depth and give it due diligence.”

If the board goes ahead with the policy, it would allow administrators who have Carrying a Concealed Weapon (CCW) permit to carry a gun on school grounds if they so choose. The policy would require such administrators to undergo a background check that goes beyond the standard LiveScan and quarterly training.

The district already has discussed the matter with Merced County Sheriff Vern Warnke, who said he would support it. “If a responsible person on campus is armed to protect the children, I’m fully on board with that,” he said.

Warnke, who supported concealed weapon permits when he ran for sheriff in 2014, emphasized that those carrying guns on campuses must go through proper training.

So far, Planada is the only district to approach Warnke about the subject. Planada Elementary is in an unincorporated community in the county, which falls under the sheriff’s jurisdiction. Gonzalez said early research indicates sheriff’s deputies’ response times to the schools vary from 10 to 20 minutes. The district does not have a school resource officer.

Other districts in California that allow concealed firearms on campuses include Kingsburg Joint Union High in Fresno County, Kern High School District in Kern County, Folsom Cordova in Folsom and Anderson Union High in Shasta County.

State education code also allows school districts to develop a school police force, another idea Planada has not ruled out, Gonzalez said.

If the district were to pursue that option, Gonzalez said he would approach Le Grand schools to share a police chief and might consider employing sheriff’s deputies part time as supplemental work.

“If we go down that road, we don’t feel the sensitive policy (on concealed carry) would be necessary,” Gonzalez said. “We’re in full exploratory mode to provide the maximum safety to our students.”

Planada Elementary has about 800 students in one elementary and one middle school.

This story was originally published September 26, 2016 at 4:45 PM with the headline "Planada to talk concealed carry at school."