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 on a part-time basis such as coaches or activity supervisors. 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 shall provide the District with a criminal history records check through the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCII) and through Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) records.

The Board authorizes the Educational Service Center 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 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.

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, 3319.39, 3319.291, 3301.541

Revised 4/14/03
Revised 10/15/07
Revised 4/14/08