Indian River School District Policy For Hiring New Employees
May 8th, 2008 by Joe CiccantiFor those parents who may be concerned about who the district hires following the recent events that unfolded at Sussex Central High School, here is the process for hiring new employees as outlined to WGMD by School District Superintendent Susan Bunting:
1. He/she is fingerprinted either here or at the police station or provides a criminal background check that has been completed within the current school year
2. A state and federal background check is conducted by the Delaware State Police.
3. The employee must complete a Child Protection Registry, which is sent to Health/Human Services - A response is received within 1-2 weeks.
4. He/she completes benefit paperwork.
5. He/she signs an affidavit stating that he/she has no criminal convictions, no crime against a child, and no drug or alcohol abuse.
6. He/she signs a sexual harassment policy and telecommunications policy.
7. He/she signs an acknowledgement that if criminal background check shows any of the crimes listed in #5, that he/she will be immediately released.
8. The Department of Personnel or an IRSD representative personally checks all references.
She further adds:
”We have followed this procedure with all employees in the past and will continue to do so in the future.”
May 8th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
The New Hire Policy is not the issue they were fooled by trash that just was put out in a pretty package. My problem is the fact that after Goodmans 2 year contract was up they gave him another year when many complaints were filed. I know the standard answer is ( We looked into every complaint and could not find any problems) thats bull you just did not care to see any problems. From what I have been told the only thing the board cared about was that the disipline numbers were down well thats not hard when you are not reporting all of the disipline. My daughters friends have told me of many problems that were swept under the rug. One being a fight where 2 students had to be physically restrained by staff but because one of the students was a star Basketball player nothing was done and from what I have been told by a friend of mine who works at the school said this is common place. She has also told me many disipline referals sent to the office by teachers are not handled the way the rules state and this was not only Goodman but by the assistants as well. Which brings me to another rant how can you tell me not one of the assistants new anything was wrong and I am not just talking about this last incident but I am talking about all of the items that have come out. Talking to my friend the teacher at Sussex Central and some other parents we truly feel the only way Central will heal is if they bring in a new principal and assistants because if they did not know something was wrong they should not be running a school anyways. How can staff and students be asked to trust Assistant Principals who are to be there to protect them and they did nothing. This goes out to anyone on the board the district office and the assistant principals you know some of you knew Goodman had issues and was bringing down Sussex Central so before you go to bed tonight I hope you look in the mirror and remember the face you see is the face of a person who let a 17 year old girl be rapped by someone she trusted sweet dreams.
May 8th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
This is SOP for all school districts - Just because someone doesn’t have a CRIMINAL past does not mean that they are fit to work with children. There are women and men out there having inappropriate relationships with students (Mary Kay Letourneau anyone?) and IT KEEPS HAPPENING! How far does it have to go before it changes? I’m all for the criminal background checks, but what about character references? What about adding that to the SOP? Maybe 3 references from parents or those that worked under the applicant’s supervision?
May 8th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Keep asking questions, Joe. Don’t let them convince you that they didn’t have a clue anything was going on. They knew plenty and their actions are cowardly and show 100% lack of accountability.
Know and understand that this very policy is put in place to protect the Board and the Superintendent from being held accountable when situations like the one with Goodman come up. This is not the first time a situation like this has happened. IRSD just wasn’t as lucky this time. They can’t hide behind the “procedures” and simply claim — “we followed them.”
If Dr. Bunting claims they “followed procedure” then the next question should be:
The “procedures” didn’t work with keeping IRSD kids safe … SO, what are YOU and YOUR SCHOOL BOARD going to do about it in order to ensure our kids are safe from this day forward?
That IS THEIR JOB; their #1 JOB - to maintain a safe and orderly environment in all their schools. They failed miserably — all of them and they know it.
If THE SCHOOL BOARD and DR. BUNTING were truly vested in the safety of the students in IRSD, they would begin to examine their OWN ACTIONS.
Now that is true accountability - looking at one’s own actions… something IRSD continues to have a problem with.
Keep asking, keep pushing, Joe.
May 11th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
YOU CAN’T TRUST THE CURRENT BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT.
GET THEM OUT, NOW … vote and be heard!
FIRST - Postpone the referendum. It is not logical to approve salary hikes and “operating expenses” (a fancy public school term that translates to — “We’ve mismanaged your money again.”). That’s the joke … the referendum money is not going to help kids; but rather it helps line the pockets of those who are asking for the money. Wake up.
SECOND - Clean house. Eliminate the Board (and the Superintendent) and start over. Many of the Board members have been there for too long and only spend time in the buildings they like or give support to the people they like. Replace the Superintendent. Her meek and shy approach doesn’t cut it; nobody’s buying it. Get a spine or get out.
THIRD - Establish sound procedures for the Board and the Superintendent to follow to protect our kids. If they fail, then there’s a consequence; just like there’s a consequence for Mr. Goodman.
FOURTH - Reschedule the referendum after new elections with clear cut guidelines, sound procedure for protecting our kids, and a brand new Board with fresh ideas and open minds to change; no more favors for brothers, cousins, and uncles. Get it together or get out.
Peace.