In accordance with State law, the Board of Education requires a criminal background check of each applicant the Superintendent recommends for employment on the District's professional staff as well as for current employees on a periodic basis. This requirement includes all substitutes and persons employed whether it be for full-time or part-time employment or as a Board-approved volunteer. 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 as prescribed by law. 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 through the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCII) and through Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) records.

The Board authorizes the County Office of Education to undertake the criminal history check for individuals the Board may employ.

The guidelines established by the Superintendent shall also direct that any information and record obtained from such inquiries is 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.

Professional staff members determined by virtue of a criminal records check to have pled guilty to or have been convicted of any offense enumerated under R.C. 3319.39(B)(1), or who are otherwise determined to have engaged in conduct unbecoming the teaching profession are subject to the mandatory reporting requirements set forth in Policy 8141, in addition to the initiation of an action by the Board to terminate their employment.

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

Adopted 12/10/91
Revised 4/94
Revised 2/28/95
Revised 4/98
Revised 11/03
Revised 8/18/08
Revised 6/29/10