Taft parents met with school district officials Tuesday night to discuss this month's school shooting. Parents demanded answers as to why the district won't release the accused shooter's disciplinary history.
According to School Legal Service, it's because releasing student information is not only against the Education Code, it's also against Federal law.
According to the District Attorney's office, it is not a crime to disclose a student's record, but it is illegal. This means if a school releases the information it could get sued and/or lose state and Federal funding.
"No actions were taken. Why?" said parent Fred Alonzo at the meeting.
Parents like Fred Alonzo said the district was warned the accused shooter, Bryan Oliver, had plans to shoot up the school.
"You guys say you are going to listen, but you didn't listen," Alonzo told district officials. "These kids spoke up."
Parents said Oliver was suspended for two days last year for having a hit list and now they want want answers.
"You can get F's and you are removed to Buena Vista, but you can have a hit list of 30 people but only be suspended for two days," said parent Jessenia Parsons at the meeting.
The District's interim superintendent said the district is bound by law to protect Oliver's student records.
"We understand that it is very difficult, but we just we just can't," said Interim Superintendent William McDermott at the meeting.
McDermott is right. Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Ac,t as well as California Education Code Section 49076, "a school district is not authorized to permit access to pupil records to a person without written parental consent or under judicial order."
"They are absolutely in the limits of the law," said local criminal attorney Kyle Humphrey. "If they release the information they are going to get sued."
According to Kern County School Legal Services, the district could also lose Federal funding. Attorney Kyle Humphrey said this applies not just to Oliver, but to any student.
"As the father of a daughter, I would want to know, but that's not what the law says," said Humphrey.
There are some exceptions for school officials, attorneys, and law enforcement, but not for the public.
Attorney Loren Kleier said this is true, but he thinks the district is just being cautious.
"I think the district knows there is probably going to be a civil lawsuit out of this and so they are probably playing it close to the vest," said Kleier.
Taft Union High School District was not available for an on camera interview Wednesday.