CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK
Effective on the 1st
day of July, 2000, all applicants of the Columbia County Board of Education who
are selected for employment shall be fingerprinted and have criminal record
checks through the Georgia Crime Information Center and the Federal Bureau of
Investigation. As required by the Governor’s Reform Act of 2000, all certified
teachers, and non-certified employees shall have a criminal records check
conducted every five years. The applicant selected for employment will be
required to complete a consent form authorizing the Columbia County Sheriff’s
Department to conduct the criminal check. Effective on the 1st day
of July, 1994, pursuant to O.C.G.A. §20-2-211, all new certificated
professional personnel to be issued a contract of employment shall be
fingerprinted and have criminal record checks through the Georgia Crime Information
Center and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
AS required by the A Plus
Education Reform Act of 2000, all current employees of the Columbia County
Board of Education must have a criminal history background check conducted
every five years. All employees working before July 1, 2000 who have never been
fingerprinted by the Columbia County
Board of Education must consent to a records check and fingerprinting
the first time the criminal history check is performed. For professional
certified employees, the criminal history background check will be conducted
during the year that the required teaching certificate issued by the
Professional Standards Commission must be renewed. For all other employees, to
include auxiliary employees, professional employees not required to hold a
teaching certificate, teachers who hold National Board for Professional
Teaching Standards teacher certification,, or teachers who hold life
certificates, a criminal history check must be conducted every five years
during the month of initial employment. For all employees who do not hold
Professional Standards Commission certificates with the standard five-year
cycle, hired prior to July 1, 1995, the criminal history check will be
conducted on the as established by the Board of Education. Thereafter,
employees holding life certificates, National Board for Professional Teaching
Standards certified teachers, and non-certified employees shall have a criminal
records check conducted every five years.
The Columbia County Sheriff’s
Department will fingerprint prospective employees, and the Board of Education
shall bear the cost of the FBI fee for the record check. The Columbia County
Board of Education will authorize the issuance of a temporary contract of
employment for required certified employees not to exceed 200 days to allow for
the receipt of the results of the criminal record check. Upon receipt of an
acceptable criminal history report, the Columbia County Board of Education will
issue the standard one year contract of employment. If an adverse employment
decision is made based on the results of the criminal history, the employee
will be so notified in writing and will be afforded the right to a public
hearing before the Columbia County Board of Education. The Columbia County
Board of Education reserves the right to conduct background checks on any
employee upon receiving a written complaint signed by any complaining party
concerning any employee of the system. These written complaints shall be kept
confidential as required by law. The Columbia County Board of Education
reserves the right to check, without receiving a written complaint, if
sufficient cause is given to justify a criminal records check of any employee.
All requirements of the law dealing with criminal GCIC checks shall be met by
all employees of the system should it be deemed necessary to complete a
background check pursuant to O.C.G.A. §49-5-110, et seq.
A background check shall include,
but not limited to the following:
a) O.C.G.A. §16-5-23 relating to simple battery
when the victim is a minor;
b) O.C.G.A. §16-5-24 relating to aggravated
battery when the victim is a minor;
c) O.C.G.A. §16-5-70 relating to cruelty to
children;
d) O.C.G.A. §16-12-1 relating to contributing
to the delinquency of a minor;
e) Any crime relating to Chapter 6 of Title 16
of the Official Code of Georgia relating to sexual
offenses;
f) Any crime relating to Chapter 13 of Title 16
of the Official Code of Georgia relating to controlled
substances, marijuana, dangerous drugs and alcohol;
g) O.C.G.A. §16-5-1 relating to murder or
felony;
h) O.C.G.A. §16-4-1 relating to criminal
attempt if it concerns a minor;
i) O.C.G.A
§16-8-1 relating to theft;
j) Any other offenses committed in any other
jurisdiction either state or federal which if committed
in this state would be deemed to be one of the enumerated
crimes listed herein;
k) Any other acts which could be reasonably
construed as hindering the ability of an applicant to
supervise children.