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Public commenters accuse trustee of bullying over PragerU and trans remarks; trustee defends stance
Summary
Multiple public commenters at the Kern County Board of Education meeting criticized trustee conduct and requested curriculum transparency after remarks about PragerU and transgender people; Trustee James Robinson defended his comments and asserted his position on judicial review and local authority. The board did not take action on the complaints.
Public comment at the Kern County Board of Education meeting on February 2026 focused on trustee conduct and proposed curricular materials.
John Hart, a retired photojournalist and former college instructor, told the board that Trustee James Robinson publicly ‘‘bully[ied]’’ a constituent, Ellen Schaffhauser, after she raised concerns about PragerU materials and the board’s earlier attempt to place the Ten Commandments in schools. Hart recounted Trustee Robinson holding up a copy of the Constitution and said Robinson told the room: "You made a reference to the First Amendment and the separation of church and state, and there's nothing in the…
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