An online petition is calling for an investigation after reports of an altercation between a student and staff members suggested the student was injured.
The petition alleges a student, named only as “Bridgette,” was “punched in the face by a staff member” and pinned for two minutes against a hot metal surface, resulting in second-degree burns.
Authors are calling for an independent investigation into Bakersfield High School staff and others regarding the incident.
Photos circulating on social media purport to show three security guards holding someone against the ground, and images of heavily-burned skin.
Several students staged a walk-out Monday to protest staff behavior and a charity account on the website GoFundMe has been set up to aid with medical bills.
In an email, Kern High School District spokesperson Violeta Trujillo said the district is aware of an incident occurring between a student and security staff at BHS last week.
“The matter is currently being investigated. The district is unable to comment further on personnel matters.”
The petition, posted on Change.org by Mya Johnson, had 449 signatures Tuesday afternoon after four days online.