School Board Policy 404 -
Employment Background Checks

I. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to maintain a safe and healthful environment in the school district in order to promote the physical, social, and psychological well-being of its students. To that end, the school district will seek a criminal history background check for applicants who receive an offer of employment with the school district and on all individuals, except enrolled student volunteers, who are offered the opportunity to provide volunteer services to the school district, regardless of whether any compensation is paid, or such other background checks as provided by this policy. The school district may also elect to do background checks of service providers, independent contractors, and student employees in the school district.

II. General Statement of Policy

A. The school district shall require that applicants for school district positions who receive an offer of employment and all individuals, except enrolled student volunteers, who are offered the opportunity to provide volunteer services to the school district, regardless of whether any compensation is paid, submit to a criminal history background check. The offer of employment or the opportunity to provide services shall be conditioned upon a determination by the school district that an individual’s criminal history does not preclude the individual from employment with, or providing services to, the school district.

B. The school district specifically reserves any and all rights it may have to conduct background checks regarding current employees, applicants, or service providers without the consent of such individuals.

C. Adherence to this policy by the school district shall in no way limit the school district's right to require additional information, or to use procedures currently in place or other procedures to gain additional background information concerning employees, applicants, volunteers, service providers, independent contractors, and student employees.

III. Procedures

A. An individual will not commence employment until the school district receives the results of the criminal history background check. Background checks will be performed by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA). The BCA shall conduct the background check by retrieving criminal history data as defined in Minn. Stat. § 13.87. The school district reserves the right to also have criminal history background checks conducted by other organizations or agencies.

B. In order for an individual to be eligible for employment or to provide volunteer services to the school district, except for an enrolled student volunteer, the individual must sign a criminal history consent form, which provides permission for the school district to conduct a criminal history background check, and provide a money order or check payable to either the BCA or to the school district, at the election of the school district, in an amount equal to the actual cost to the BCA and/or the school district of conducting the criminal history background check. The cost of the criminal history background check is the responsibility of the individual, unless the school district decides to pay the costs for a volunteer, service provider, independent contractor, or student employee. If the individual fails to provide the school district with a signed Informed Consent Form and fee at the time the individual receives a job offer or is granted permission to provide services, the individual will be considered to have voluntarily withdrawn the application for employment or request to provide services.

C. For all non-state residents who are offered employment with or the opportunity to provide volunteer services to the school district, the school district shall request a criminal history background check on such individuals from the superintendent of the BCA and from the government agency performing the same function in the individual’s resident state or, if no government entity performs the same function in the resident state, from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The offer of employment or the opportunity to provide services shall be conditioned upon a determination by the school district that an individual’s criminal history does not preclude the individual from employment with, or providing services to, the school district. Such individuals must provide an executed criminal history consent form.

D. When required, individuals must provide fingerprints to assist in a criminal history background check. If the fingerprints provided by the individual are unusable, the individual will be required to submit another set of prints.

E. Copies of this policy shall be available in the school district’s employment office and will be distributed, upon request, to applicants for employment and individuals who are offered the opportunity to provide volunteer services. The requirement to submit to a criminal history background check may be included with the basic criteria for employment or providing services in the position posting and position advertisements.

F. The individual will be informed of the results of the criminal background check(s) to the extent required by law.

G. If the criminal history background check precludes the individual from employment with, or providing services to, the school district, the individual will be so advised.

H. The school district shall apply these procedures to service providers and independent contractors.

I. At the beginning of each school year or when a student enrolls, the school district will notify parents and guardians about this policy and identify those positions subject to a background check and the extent of the school district’s discretion in requiring a background check. The school district may include this notice in its student handbook, a school policy guide, or other similar communication. A form notice for this purpose is included with this policy.

IV. Criminal History Consent Form

A form to obtain consent for a criminal history background check is included with this policy.

Legal References: 
Minn. Stat. § 13.04, Subd. 4 (Inaccurate or Incomplete Data)
Minn. Stat. § 13.87, Subd. 1 (Criminal History Data)
Minn. Stat. § 123B.03 (Background Check)
Minn. Stat. §§ 299C.60-299C.64 (Minnesota Child Protection Background Check Act)
Minn. Stat. § 364.09(b) (Exception for School Districts)