To more adequately safeguard students and staff members, the Board of Education requires an inquiry into the background of each applicant the Superintendent recommends for employment and each volunteer on the District's support staff.

Such an inquiry may also be made for individuals who may be employed as substitutes by the District. For substitutes only, the Superintendent may rely on certification from another intermediate or local school district that a report has been received from the State Police and that the individual has no criminal history.

The Superintendent shall establish the necessary procedures for obtaining from the Criminal Records Division of the State Police any criminal history on the applicant maintained by the State Police.

Should it be necessary to employ a person in order to maintain continuity of the program prior to receipt of the report, the Superintendent may employ the person on a conditional basis until the report is received.

Candidates with a criminal history will not automatically be disqualified from consideration for employment. The nature of the offense will be measured against the requirements of the job. Consideration will be given to the length of time lapsed since the offense, verifiable work history, as well as personal and professional references since the conviction. Candidates who do not disclose their entire criminal history may be disqualified from consideration for employment.

All information and records obtained from such inquiries are to be considered confidential and shall not be released or disseminated to those not directly involved in evaluating the applicant's qualifications, except the District may confirm to another district that a potential substitute does not have a criminal history, pursuant to a report received from the State Police. Violation of confidentiality is a crime with penalties up to $1,000.

PA 68 of 1993, 99 of 1993

Revised 12/13/93
Revised 5/04