In compliance with Florida law, the District requires that, prior to initial employment or re-employment if there has been a break in service, all candidates for all support positions shall be subject to a criminal background check to determine eligibility for employment.

The application for employment shall inform the applicants that they are subject to criminal background and employment history checks.

The cost of the background screening related to initial employment or re-employment after a break in service will be borne by the candidate for employment.

Fingerprints of candidates for employment or re-employment if there has been a break in service shall be submitted to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) for statewide criminal and juvenile records checks and to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for federal criminal records checks. A person who is found ineligible for employment under F.S. 1012.315, or otherwise found through background screening to have been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude as defined by rule of the State Board of Education, shall not be employed, engaged to provide services, or serve in any position that requires direct contact with students. Probationary persons subject to this section who are terminated because of their criminal record have the right to appeal such decisions.

Individuals whose fingerprints have not been retained by the FDLE must be re-fingerprinted and re-screened upon re-employment or re-engagement to provide service as a support staff member in order to comply with the law.

Furthermore, before employing an individual in any position that requires direct contact with students, the Superintendent shall conduct employment history checks and document the findings.

All support staff employed by the District shall self-report arrests for serious offenses.

Additionally, the fingerprints of all individuals who are employed by the District and have no break in service must be re-submitted to the FDLE and to the FBI every five (5) years so that subsequent statewide criminal and juvenile records checks and federal criminal records checks can be completed as required by law.

The cost of this subsequent background screening will be borne by the Board.

The information contained in reports received from the FDLE and the FBI is confidential.

Pursuant to state law, the District will, however, share information received as a result of the criminal background check with other school districts.

F.S. 435.09, 943.0585(4)(a), 943.059(4)(a), 1001.10(5), 1012.27(6), 1012.315
F.S. 1012.32, 1012.56

Revised 9/28/10