Lawrence and most other Kansas school districts do not require background checks for the volunteers who come into close contact with students.

But throughout the United States, there are some school districts that require a thorough background check of volunteers. Some learned the hard way that it might be a good idea.

Recently, in Maryland’s Prince George County School District, a volunteer football coach was charged with sexually abusing a 15-year-old female student.

Since then, the district has stepped up its background checks.

John White, spokesman for the district of 134,000 students, said it now requires a full criminal background check on each volunteer, including ones who’ve been working in the system for years.

“Each school district has to make their own decision,” White said. “We felt it was necessary to make sure our parents feel like we’ve done our best to check on anyone who comes in contact with their children.”

‘Never had a problem’

Randy Weseman, Lawrence school superintendent, said the district has no formal policy on volunteers. But, he said, all volunteers work under the direction of school staff.

And Weseman said that system has worked for the 30 years that he has been in the district.

“I’ve never had a problem with the system,” he said. “Those who volunteer are normally active in the community.”

One such person is Linda Kiernan, who has volunteered in Lawrence schools for 10 years.

Kiernan has performed a range of duties – reading with children, field trips and gardening – without undergoing a background check.

As a mother of four, Kiernan said she wasn’t too worried about the safety of her children.

“There’s generally someone keeping an eye on things,” she said.

But Tammy Galloway, who has two children in Lawrence public schools, was surprised to learn that background checks are not a requirement.

“I believe they should do a background check and drug screening on everyone,” she said. “Our children are so impressionable, especially at the junior high and high school levels. They need good role models.”

Joann Donnellan, director of media relations at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, couldn’t agree more.

“Our recommendation is that there needs to be a mandatory fingerprint-based national criminal history check on not just employees of the schools, but on contractors and volunteers who work in the school,” she said.

State has no policy

Kevin Ireland, staff attorney with the Kansas State Department of Education, said Kansas law does not require background checks on school volunteers or unclassified employees.

But the Lawrence school district does require a background check for all paid employees, including teachers, administrators, school bus drivers, coaches and aides.

That background check, according to Mary Rodriguez, executive director of human resources, involves:

¢ Checking the Kansas Bureau of Investigation Web site to see whether they are registered sex offenders.

¢ Paying $12.50 for a KBI criminal background check.

¢ Written references from at least three people.

¢ Principals calling at least three references.

¢ Paying $10 to check the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services’ Child Abuse & Neglect Central Registry.

¢ Requiring a Federal Bureau of Investigation fingerprint check if they have not lived in Kansas for the past 10 consecutive years.

The district has a contract with Laidlaw Transit for its busing system. Wayne Zachary, branch manager for Laidlaw, said all 93 bus drivers had received a KBI background check.

Volunteers who work at the schools through programs such as the Boys and Girls Club or Big Brothers Big Sisters of Douglas County get background checks through their agencies.

Legislature wants check

After the state passed House Bill 2576 regarding sexual predators, the Legislature required the State Board of Education to assign a task force to study the feasibility of requiring all districts to conduct a background check on any unescorted, nonteaching personnel.

The board’s policy committee was tapped to be the task force. Those on the committee were board members Ken Willard, Carol Rupe and Connie Morris.

They met July 11 and Aug. 7 and then presented the following report to the board: “Under the existing language, it is not reasonably feasible to impose such a requirement upon school districts. The proposed mandated policy is far too broad to be implemented.”

For example, Rupe said the policy would require a background check on every spectator at every athletic event.

The task force recommended that the Legislature adopt provisions requiring a background check on unclassified employees.

The board approved the recommendation in August and will present it to the Legislature in January.

Bill Wagnon, state board representative for the Lawrence area, said he didn’t have a strong opinion on background checks.

However, he did agree that it made sense to conduct one on volunteers.

“It would help boost the confidence of the safety of our schools,” he said.

Salina stands out

Carol Rupe, a retired teacher and a member of the task force, said she thought all Kansas school districts should consider doing what the Salina school district does. It may be the only Kansas district that requires background checks on volunteers.

“They have different levels of background checks depending on the volunteer,” she said. “If someone is going to be driving, they check on traffic violations. The system seems to make sense.”

Carol Pitts, the Salina district’s spokesperson, said all volunteers there fill out a form. They generally do a motor vehicle, Kansas Bureau of Investigation and SRS background check, which costs $25 per volunteer. She said the Internet has made the system much quicker and easier.

She said the district of 7,200 students has been checking volunteers since 1999.

“Anyone who wants to volunteer must be cleared,” she said. “Chaperones, drivers and parents who want to attend a senior trip.”