Background Checks of Employees – Doing Our Best to Ensure Student Safety

Every school district is required to complete a KBI background check on all new employees hired by the school district. USD 331 goes beyond that requirement and uses a service that provides additional information on employees beyond what is provided by the KBI checks. The KBI is a free service that will provide information about sexual predators, etc., but does not thoroughly vet the potential employee’s background regarding other areas that could be of concern to parents, students, and the district.

The district pays for a employee background screening service that will provide everything the KBI site provides, but also provides information on any court proceeding, arrest, or even traffic tickets. If a potential employee received multiple traffic tickets or a serious infraction, the district may decide to prohibit any transportation of students or even ban the use of school vehicles, though that has not been necessary to this point. Anything that shows up on the background check that could be potential risk to students or other district employees is thoroughly investigated and the administration and Board of Education is satisfied of safety before contracts or work agreements are provided to the potential employee.

The safety and security of USD 331 students and staff is paramount to the operation of the school district. We will continue to use all reasonable means to ensure that safety and security.