CODE: 4112.5R
INSTRUCTIONAL AND SUPPORT PERSONNEL
CRIMINAL HISTORY CHECK: APPLICANT PROCEDURES
In order to complete the criminal history review process, a candidate for employment in the West Milford School District must do the following:
1. Applicants must obtain and complete all necessary documents to undergo the background check from the Board of Education Office. School bus drivers must use forms identified as "School Bus Driver." The following forms will be included in the processing package:
a. One State and One Federal Fingerprint Card
b. Applicant Authorization and Certification Form
2. The fingerprint cards supplied by the Office of Criminal History Review are the only cards to be used in this process. Submission of any other fingerprint cards shall be rejected and returned to the submitting school district.
3. Required information shall be printed clearly or typed on the Applicant Authorization and Certification Form and fingerprint cards. Instructions for completing the these forms are included in the provided information booklet.
4. The applicant must have the Applicant Authorization and Certification Form notarized.
5. Fingerprints may be taken at the local police department where the applicant resides, the nearest State Police Station if no local department is available, or by the County Sheriff's Office. Prior to requesting that fingerprints be taken, applicants should contact the agency involved since some have designated times set aside for this service. Some law enforcement agencies may also charge a nominal fee for their assistance in taking prints. Positive identification will be required by the police at the time prints are taken.
6. The completed fingerprint cards and Applicant Authorization and Certification Form must be returned to the Board of Education Office. The applicant will be given the canary copy of the Applicant Authorization and Certification Form after the proper codes have been entered by the Board Office. Applicants for school bus driver licenses shall produce the canary copy of this document to the Division of Motor Vehicles before a license will be issued by that agency. Additionally, school bus drivers must submit all necessary completed criminal history paperwork to the West Milford Board Office four (4) months prior to the expiration of their CDL. Any person falsifying these documents may be subject to criminal prosecution.
7. Payment of the established fee in the form of a certified check or money order payable to the "State of New Jersey" must accompany these materials.
8. The fingerprint cards will be forwarded to the Department of Education by the school district for processing by the State Bureau of Identification and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. When the State and Federal fingerprint cards are returned to the Department of Education by these agencies along with any criminal history information, a determination will be made concerning qualification/disqualification.
9. In cases where there is no criminal history record of a disqualifying nature, a qualification letter will be sent to the applicant. The school district will receive a computer printout of employees receiving approval by the Department of Education, Office of Criminal History Review.
10. In the event of a disqualification, the applicant will receive a letter outlining the offense used as a basis for the disqualification with instructions regarding
the appeal process. Failure to file a timely appeal will result in termination of employment. Additionally, the law requires the State Board of Examiners be notified of all teachers and substitute teachers who receive final disqualification for possible revocation of their certificates. School bus drivers who receive final
disqualification will have their school bus endorsement revoked by the Division of Motor Vehicles. This will preclude a school bus driver from operating any type bus including commercial and transit buses.
First Reading: December 12, 2000
Adopted: December 19, 2000