MINUTES FROM MAY 8, 2008
SUPERINTENDENT’S ETHICS & TEACHER LICENSURE
TASK FORCE
I. INTRODUCTIONS
Overview of the agenda for the day (Katie Cornetto)
Overview & Powerpoint of March 20, 2008 meeting (Dr. Bob McGrattan)
Group I: Application Changes/Licensing Others
Group II: Ethics Education
Group III: Taking Disciplinary Actions
Group IV: Fingerprinting (by State) & Background Checking
Guiding Questions:
What does the public want?
What does the profession expect?
What should we do as a state?
To Keep In Mind: Do not let potential, financial limitations limit what we recommend:
II. LICENSING POLICE OFFICERS: LOOKING AT A PARALLEL PROCESS
John Aldridge, Assistant Attorney General, Law Enforcement Liaison, led the group through the
process of licensing police officers in North Carolina. The discussion was broken into three (3)
parts:
1. BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION
- a single system will not give all the information you need; therefore, the
applicant is obligated to report his/her background in addition to using other
background checks
- Form F3: All information is to be provided by applicant
-14 pages, under oath
- personal history
- all variations of name
- numerical identifiers (SSN, DOB, etc…)
- places lived
- schools attended
- prior employment gaps
- criminal record (arrests, convictions, etc…)
- Military history
- If application has not been submitted to the commission and the
omitted material has been either discussed with or found by the
hiring agency, modifications will be allowed.
- If application has already been submitted to the commission,
misrepresentations/omissions will be investigated.
-
Form F8: Confirms the accuracy of the F3 Form
- includes record checks via:
Œ
Statewide AOC
o Catches traffic violations, minor infractions,
misdemeanors, felonies
o Limitation: name-based only
o If a material misrepresentation was made Æ sent to
Probable Cause Committee for factual investigation
ΠFingerprinting
o State checks & FBI checks
o Results sent to employing agency & Committee
ΠDMV Records
ΠLocal Criminal History Checks (Record Check)
o Done for every place applicant has lived for past 10
years
ΠPrior Military Service
- personal history
- all variations of name
- numerical identifiers (SSN, DOB, etc…)
2. MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR JUSTICE OFFICERS
- Citizen
- At least 21 years old
- HS graduate or GED (no online degrees accepted)
- Fingerprinted
- Medical Exam
- Negative result on drug screen
- Be “of good moral character”
- Sup. Ct. ruled a lack of good moral character can be supported
via a single, significant event or a history/pattern of disqualifying
events
3. SUSPENSION, REVOCATION OR DENIAL OF CERTIFICATION
- If committed or convicted of a felony Æ Permanent Bar to certification
- If committed or convicted of crime punishable by more than 2 years in prison
Æ Permanent Bar to certification
- Commission may revoke, suspend or deny certification if committed or
convicted of:
i. Class B misd. after date of initial certification;
ii. Class B misd. within 5 year period prior to appointment;
iii. Four (4) or more Class B misd. regardless of timing;
iv. Four (4) or more Class A misd. regardless of timing (Except: If last
act occurred more than 2 years prior to date of appointment); or
v. Combination of four (4) or more crimes defined as Class A or Class B
misd. regardless of timing
NOTE: Class B – Serious Misdemeanors, defined by the Commission as:
1. crimes involving assaultive behavior
2. crimes involving fraud, deceitful behavior
3. crimes involving public corruption
-
Also, Level I or II DWI Æ characterized as Class B misdemeanor
III. REVISING THE TEACHER LICENSURE APPLICATION*
Current License Application:
ΠTwo (2) questions, No Fingerprinting, No mandatory Background Check, If applicant
checks “Yes” Æ Katie C. reviews the application
Proposed New Licensure Application
ΠRevised Application
o To be emailed to committee members for review
o To be presented to State Board in August
*This topic was the focus of our meeting, and involved in-depth discussion which is reflected in
the revised application
IV. LICENSING TEACHER ASSISTANTS AND/OR SUBSTITUTES
Questions:
Should there be a licensing process for those who have direct contact with students?
Should the State has some oversight in this area?
Proposals:
Œ
State-wide, web-based registry with names of people who have been “criminally
cleared to work in the classroom.”
o Could allow local to “clear” the TA/sub, once cleared TA/sub’s name is placed on
the list. If local takes TA/sub’s name off local list, then it would also be removed
from the state list.
o Drawback: this may give rise to ensuring due process rights are preserved
Œ
State, web-based database containing employment history of non-certified personnel
(this would allow other districts to check past work experience)
Katie Cornetto asks for volunteers to call states and find out details of procedures they use for
non-certified personnel.
V. SETTING GOALS, DEFINING TASKS & TIMELINE
Next Focus Topic: Ethics Education
Next Meeting: Date: August 28, 2008; Time: 9:30 – 3:00pm 7th Floor Board Meeting Room