An investigation has revealed that a small number of school superintendents in Pennsylvania have been bringing concealed firearms to work for close to a year, writes Jen Kinney for WHYY.

The school administrators have gained permission to carry concealed firearms in their schools from county law enforcement officials without the public’s knowledge.

During a school safety conference held earlier this year, attorney Ronald Repak, of the Beard Legal Group, said his firm had petitioned district attorneys in several counties on behalf of administrators who wanted permission to carry firearms in their official capacity.

Due to ambiguity of state statute, fewer than six of those petitions were approved. However, Repak did not share details on which districts or staffers are currently carrying weapons in schools.

”I will tell you, you probably don’t know who these individuals are, but they are carrying concealed weapons within the school districts because of our petition,” said Repak.

He said there could be more armed staff at school districts who were represented by other firms.

The news came as a shock to many education advocates, some of whom fear the secrecy could further erode the public’s trust in school districts.

Read more about the issue at WHYY here.

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