In order to adequately safeguard students and staff members, and in accordance with State law, the Board of Education requires an inquiry into the background of each applicant the Superintendent recommends for employment on the District's professional staff. This requirement includes all substitutes and persons employed on a part-time basis such as coaches or activity supervisors who may have care, custody, or control of students. In addition, all professional staff members with a license, certificate, or permit issued by the Ohio Department of Education must undergo a criminal background check at the time of the renewal of same or, in the case of a permanent teaching certificate, no less than every five (5) years. Such background check is not otherwise required of any currently-employed staff member who is a candidate for another position within the District.

The Superintendent shall establish administrative guidelines which will require a records check that complies with the law and ensures that, at the time of the initial application, upon renewal of a professional teaching certificate, license, or permit, and, for professional staff members with permanent teaching certificates - not later than every five (5) years, the applicant or employee is properly informed of the requirement to obtain a.) a criminal history records check, b.) a set of the applicant's or employee's fingerprints, and c.) proof that the applicant or employee has been a resident of Ohio for the five (5) years previous to the criminal history records check, and if not, that the Bureau of Criminal Investigation shall be requested to obtain criminal history information from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The Board authorizes the Educational Service Center to undertake the criminal history check for substitute teachers the Board may employ.

The guidelines established by the Superintendent shall also direct that any information and records obtained from such inquiries are confidential and shall not be released or disseminated.

Should it be necessary to employ a person to maintain continuity of the program, prior to receipt of the criminal history record, the Superintendent may employ the person on a provisional basis until the report is received.

R.C. 109.57, 109.572, 2950, 2953.32, 3301.541, 3319.291, 3319.39

Adopted 3/90
Revised 1/27/03
Revised 2/25/08