Background checks for school volunteers

criminal background checks for its parent volunteers for the first time this year. While the background checks will be left up to the discretion of the principle of each school, it seems that such a rule is a step forward in our need to make society safer for our children. There is no place safety is more important and adults more trusted than at our schools. While such a process was only introduced a month ago, over 2,000 individuals have already been checked – with four people being flagged for their questionable records. Such background screening is key in protecting children and working towards public safety. “It’s unfortunate that today you cannot take folks on face value, but they are here to serve our students” says Harpeth Valley Principal Kimber Halliburton, and she’s right. Parents must also pay $40 for their own background checks, but this doesn’t seem to be an issue for concerned parents – “I think it’s just great protection for our kids and it gives assurance to parents. You don’t have to wonder if all the steps have been taken to ensure your kids are safe,” said parent volunteer Lanetta Heyen. In Nashville, the Pencil Foundation is paying for all of the background checks in Davidson County, so it won’t be an added cost for parents. Perhaps more areas should take note of this, as we all understand the economic conditions may hinder parents paying this fee or, more significantly, schools not requiring them to. Such pre-employment background screening is vital, and it’s nice to see certain states taking this seriously. Even for volunteers it should be a requirement – after all, is it really worth taking the risk?]]>