5111 - Disclosures and Background Checks for Employees Policy

Policy 5111

PERSONNEL 

Disclosures and Background Checks for Employees
Prior to formal employment by the board, a prospective employee shall present necessary documents which establish eligibility to work and shall attest to his or her eligibility to work as required by federal law. The superintendent or designee shall complete the employer certification on the Form I-9 issued by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

The board has determined that all persons employed by the district might have unsupervised access to children as defined by law during the course of their employment. Therefore, prior to employment of any applicant for any position, the district shall require the applicant to disclose whether he or she has been:

A. Convicted of any crime against persons;

B. Found in any dependency action under RCW 13.34.030(2)(b) to have sexually assaulted or exploited any minor or to have physically abused any minor;

C. Found by a court in a domestic relations proceeding under Title 26 RCW to have sexually abused or exploited any minor or to have physically abused any minor;

D. Found in any disciplinary board final decision to have sexually abused or exploited any minor or to have physically abused any minor.

The disclosure shall be made in writing and signed by the applicant and sworn to under penalty of perjury. The disclosure sheet shall specify all crimes committed against persons.

Prospective employees shall have their records checked through the Washington State Patrol criminal identification system and through the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The record check shall include a fingerprint check using a complete Washington state criminal identification fingerprint card. The superintendent is directed to establish which staff are authorized to access the record check database maintained by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. Fingerprinting record information is highly confidential and shall not be re-disseminated to any organization or individual by district staff. Records of arrest and prosecution (RAP sheets) shall be stored in a secure location separate from personnel and applicant files, and access to this information is limited to those authorized to access the OSPI record check database.

Applicants may be employed on a conditional basis pending the outcome of the background check and may begin conditional employment once completed fingerprint cards have been sent to the Washington state patrol. If the background check reveals evidence of convictions as identified above, or if the applicant has failed to accurately disclose such information in the employment application, the candidate will not be recommended, or if conditionally employed, will be terminated.                                                                                                                                               

 

The district shall require that every prospective employee sign a release form allowing the district to contact prior or current school employers regarding prior acts of sexual misconduct, as required by state law.

 

 

 

 

Cross References:       Board Policy   5255                Disciplinary Action and Discharge

Legal References:       RCW   28A.320.155               Criminal history record information
                                                                                               — School volunteers

                                                28A.400.300               Hiring and discharging employees
                                                28A.400.301               Information on past sexual misconduct—
                                                                                                   Requirement for applicants

                                                28A.400.303               Record checks for employees
                                                28A.410.010               Certification — Background check
                                                43.43.830-40               Washington State Criminal Code Records
                                                9.96A.020                   Employment, occupational licensing by
                                                                                                    public entity—prior felony
                                                                                                    conviction no disqualification—
                                                                                                     Exceptions
                                                P.L. 99-603                 Immigration Reform and Control Act of
                                                                                                    1986 (IRCA)

                                    WAC   162-12                         Preemployment Inquiry Guide
                                                392-300-050               Access to record check data base
                                                392-300-055               Prohibition of redissemination of fingerprint
                                                                                                 record information by education
                                                                                                service districts or school districts
                                                392-300-060               Protection of fingerprint record information
                                                                                                by education service district and
                                                                                                 school districts
                                                446-20-280                 Employment — Conviction Records

 

Adoption Date:           November 22, 2005