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Two members of the Elk Hills School District Board of Trustees do not live in the district and should be immediately removed from the board, the Kern County Grand Jury said in a report issued Thursday morning.
The grand jury did not name the board members, but did recommend that the Kern County Superintendent of Schools immediately replace the trustees.
The grand jury investigated the district after receiving a complaint against the trustees.
The report said it found no evidence of criminal activity.
The grand jury report also recommended the California Legislature change state laws to make it legal to conduct “thorough criminal/background checks on all individuals currently holding or running for elected positions, including School Board Trustees, without exception.”
The reports said the grand jury contacted the Kern County Superintendent of Schools over residency and background check issues and also did an online search for records of criminal activity in Kern County
There are three trustees currently serving on the Elk Hills School District Board of Trustees.
According to the district's website, they are Board President Curt Stephens, whose four-year term expires in 2014 and Debra Howard and Brenda Bennett, whose terms expire in 2012.
None of their names were mentioned in the grand jury report.
Here is the complete text of the report:
ELK HILLS SCHOOL DISTRICT
PURPOSE OF INQUIRY:
The Health, Education, and Social Services Committee (Committee) of the 2011-2012 Kern County Grand Jury, pursuant to California Penal Code §925, investigated allegations made in a complaint against Trustees of the Elk Hills School District (Trustees).
PROCESS:
The Committee contacted the Office of Kern County Superintendent of Schools to confirm residency of the Trustees and determine criminal/background check procedures. The Committee also searched online Kern County criminal records ( HYPERLINK "http://www.kern.courts.ca.gov/" http://www.kern.courts.ca.gov/) to determine whether the Trustees’ backgrounds showed criminal activity.
FACTS:
Two of the Trustees live in Bakersfield, which is clearly outside of the Elk Hills School District.
No evidence of criminal activity was found.
Trustees hold their board meetings at 9:00 a.m. on the second Tuesday of each month.
FINDINGS:
Trustees are currently required to live within the district where they serve.
The Superintendent of Schools does not conduct background checks of any kind on Trustees. California statute prohibits this activity.
Since the Board of Trustee monthly meetings are held in the morning, it’s difficult for teachers and parents to attend.
COMMENTS:
If residency requirements are not to be enforced in local school districts, then the requirements should be eliminated.
Considering the potential for abuse of power and position, the California State Legislature should consider amending state statutes to allow for thorough criminal/background checks on all individuals currently holding or running for elected positions, including School Board Trustees, without exception.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Office of Kern County Superintendent of Schools should take action to immediately remove unqualified Trustees from the Elk Hills School District Board and replace them in accordance with District policy.
The Elk Hills School District Board of Trustees should hold meetings in the evening to make them accessible to working parents and teachers (to be more compliant with the intent of the Brown Act).
NOTES:
The Office of Kern County Superintendent of Schools should post a copy of this report where it will be available for public review.
RESPONSE REQUIRED WITHIN 90 DAYS TO:
PRESIDING JUDGE
KERN COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT
1415 TRUXTUN AVENUE, 2ND FLOOR
BAKERSFIELD, CA 93301
cc: FOREMAN
KERN COUNTY GRAND JURY
1415 TRUXTUN AVENUE, SUITE 600
BAKERSFIELD, CA 93301
Two members of the Elk Hills School District Board of Trustees do not live in the district and should be immediately removed from the board, the Kern County Grand Jury said in a report issued Thursday morning.
The grand jury did not name the board members, but did recommend that the Kern County Superintendent of Schools immediately replace the trustees.
The grand jury investigated the district after receiving a complaint against the trustees.
The report said it found no evidence of criminal activity.
The grand jury report also recommended the California Legislature change state laws to make it legal to conduct “thorough criminal/background checks on all individuals currently holding or running for elected positions, including School Board Trustees, without exception.”
The reports said the grand jury contacted the Kern County Superintendent of Schools over residency and background check issues and also did an online search for records of criminal activity in Kern County
There are three trustees currently serving on the Elk Hills School District Board of Trustees.
According to the district's website, they are Board President Curt Stephens, whose four-year term expires in 2014 and Debra Howard and Brenda Bennett, whose terms expire in 2012.
None of their names were mentioned in the grand jury report.
Here is the complete text of the report:
ELK HILLS SCHOOL DISTRICT
PURPOSE OF INQUIRY:
The Health, Education, and Social Services Committee (Committee) of the 2011-2012 Kern County Grand Jury, pursuant to California Penal Code §925, investigated allegations made in a complaint against Trustees of the Elk Hills School District (Trustees).
PROCESS:
The Committee contacted the Office of Kern County Superintendent of Schools to confirm residency of the Trustees and determine criminal/background check procedures. The Committee also searched online Kern County criminal records ( HYPERLINK "http://www.kern.courts.ca.gov/" http://www.kern.courts.ca.gov/) to determine whether the Trustees’ backgrounds showed criminal activity.
FACTS:
Two of the Trustees live in Bakersfield, which is clearly outside of the Elk Hills School District.
No evidence of criminal activity was found.
Trustees hold their board meetings at 9:00 a.m. on the second Tuesday of each month.
FINDINGS:
Trustees are currently required to live within the district where they serve.
The Superintendent of Schools does not conduct background checks of any kind on Trustees. California statute prohibits this activity.
Since the Board of Trustee monthly meetings are held in the morning, it’s difficult for teachers and parents to attend.
COMMENTS:
If residency requirements are not to be enforced in local school districts, then the requirements should be eliminated.
Considering the potential for abuse of power and position, the California State Legislature should consider amending state statutes to allow for thorough criminal/background checks on all individuals currently holding or running for elected positions, including School Board Trustees, without exception.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Office of Kern County Superintendent of Schools should take action to immediately remove unqualified Trustees from the Elk Hills School District Board and replace them in accordance with District policy.
The Elk Hills School District Board of Trustees should hold meetings in the evening to make them accessible to working parents and teachers (to be more compliant with the intent of the Brown Act).
NOTES:
The Office of Kern County Superintendent of Schools should post a copy of this report where it will be available for public review.
RESPONSE REQUIRED WITHIN 90 DAYS TO:
PRESIDING JUDGE
KERN COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT
1415 TRUXTUN AVENUE, 2ND FLOOR
BAKERSFIELD, CA 93301
cc: FOREMAN
KERN COUNTY GRAND JURY
1415 TRUXTUN AVENUE, SUITE 600
BAKERSFIELD, CA 93301
