Stevensville School District

PERSONNEL                                              

Fingerprints and Criminal Background Investigations

Board policy requires that any finalist recommended to be employed in a paid or volunteer position with the District, involving regular unsupervised access to students in schools, as determined by the Superintendent, shall submit to a name-based and fingerprint criminal background investigation conducted by the appropriate law enforcement agency. Any offer of employment or appointment will be contingent on results of the fingerprint criminal background check.

The following applicants for employment, as a condition for employment, will be required, as a condition of any offer of employment, to authorize, in writing, a name-based and fingerprint criminal background investigation:

  • A certified teacher seeking full- or part-time employment with the District;
  • An educational support personnel employee seeking full- or part-time employment with the District;
  • An employee of a person or firm holding a contract with the District, if the employee is assigned to the District;
  • A volunteer assigned to work in the District, who has regular unsupervised access to students; and
  • Substitute teachers.

Any requirement of an applicant to submit to a fingerprint background check will be in compliance with the Volunteers for Children Act of 1998 and applicable federal regulations. If an applicant has any prior record of arrest or conviction by any local, state, or federal law enforcement agency for an offense other than a minor traffic violation, the facts must be reviewed by the Superintendent, who will decide whether the applicant will be declared eligible for appointment or employment. Arrests resolved without conviction will not be considered in the hiring process, unless the charges are pending. The Superintendent shall keep all criminal record information confidential as required by law.

Legal Reference:
42 USC 5119a  National Child Protection Act
44-5-301, MCA Dissemination of public criminal justice information
44-5-302, MCA Dissemination of criminal history record information that is not public criminal justice information
44-5-303, MCA Dissemination of confidential criminal justice information
ARM 10.55.716 Substitute Teachers
ARM 10.57.201a Criminal History Background Check
Public Law 105-251, Volunteers for Children Act

Policy History:
Adopted on: February 12, 2002
Revised on: October 10, 2017
Reviewed on: September 12, 2017