Board approves first reading of open-carry ban for district property; begins rulemaking on concealed carry

The Uinta County School District Board on July 16 approved first reading of policy CKB, which prohibits open carry of firearms on district facilities, properties and buses, and began a separate rulemaking process for its CKA concealed-carry rule for employees and volunteers.

Superintendent Thomas said the new state statute (referred to in the meeting as statute 68-105) allows the district to bar open carry on school property but does not permit the district to ban concealed carry by individuals who are otherwise lawfully carrying. “The bottom line if I cut to the chase on this is you’re not allowed to open carry in school district facilities, properties, buses,” Thomas said. He added that if a person intentionally displays a concealed weapon “with the intent to intimidate” and the weapon becomes visible, the district can remove that person from a facility.

The board’s action at the meeting was limited to approving the first reading of CKB; Thomas and staff also recommended a parallel rulemaking process for CKA so the district can remove provisions it previously included to address earlier legal uncertainty and to create a clearer, single CKA policy. Thomas said the district plans to use the board’s new board-management system to host the required public comment period during rulemaking.

Administrators said the new law allows the district to require employees and volunteers who wish to concealed-carry to notify the district, receive training and be recertified on a schedule set by the district. “Once you provide us notice we’ll provide you training,” Thomas said, describing planned annual training and a more rigorous recertification standard. The district intends to notify law enforcement when an employee or volunteer files notice that they will carry on district property.

Board members and staff discussed alternatives. Superintendent Thomas said some districts are only prohibiting open carry and not changing their CKA rules; others are pursuing rulemaking to remove provisions no longer required by law. Thomas said the district will likely remove a residency requirement and other internal requirements that the new statute eliminated. He warned that the public comment process will draw strongly divergent views and urged the board to review the draft policy before second reading.

Formal action in the meeting recorded a motion and second to approve first reading of CKB; the motion carried on a voice vote.

The board did not adopt final changes to CKA at the meeting; staff said they will present a draft CKA for first reading and follow the district’s published rulemaking process that includes public comment and formal responses to comments.

Background: The board and staff framed the work as a response to recent state statutory changes. Staff repeatedly differentiated between prohibiting visible (open) carry on district-controlled sites and the district’s narrower authority over employees and volunteers’ concealed-carry behavior and training.

Looking ahead, staff said they will schedule training and recertification for current district employees approved to carry and put the draft policies through the district’s rulemaking and public-comment procedures before the second reading and final adoption.