Thursday, February 10, 2000
State considers criminal check for volunteers in schools
BY ANDREA TORTORA
The Cincinnati Enquirer
FRANKFORT — Two education bills — one that would strengthen teacher quality and one that would improve student safety — passed the House Education Committee on Wednesday.
Both bills are sponsored by Rep. Jon Draud, R-Crestview Hills. Mr. Draud is a former Ludlow Schools superintendent.
The bills now go to the full House.
• House Bill 136 would require parents and community members who volunteer in Kentucky schools to undergo a criminal background check.
Mr. Draud said he proposed the bill after learning of Bellevue Schools' policy. Checks in that district caught two potential volunteers who were convicted of felony crimes against children. Those people were not allowed to volunteer.
More than 150 of the state's 176 school districts already perform checks, including most Northern Kentucky districts. Boone County, Fort Thomas and Southgate schools do not do criminal histories.
Some legislators said they were concerned about the $4 cost for each check done by the state police. The bill allows for school boards, volunteers, PTAs, family resource centers and any number of groups to cover the cost. The administrative clerk of courts will do a check for free.
“Districts wouldn't already be doing this if they didn't see it as necessary,” Mr. Draud said.
• House Bill 25 would set a goal of one national board certified teacher in every public school by 2020. The bill would pay 75 percent of the $2,300 application fee and give teachers who earn the certification an extra $2,000 a year.
Barbara Martin and Pat Goetz were among the first Kentucky teachers to earn the designation. Both work in Ludlow Schools.
“This ties in exactly with what Kentucky is trying to do with students and with strengthening the teaching force,” Ms. Martin said. “I honestly believe it made me think about what I was doing and how I could do it better.”
Ms. Goetz said the national certification ensures that teachers know the subjects they teach. “I realized there wasn't a thing in the national standards that's not required for Kentucky's standards,” Ms. Goetz said.
Rep. Charlie Walton, R-Florence, voted against the measure. Principal at Florence Elementary, Mr. Walton said he did not want the state to decide which professional development model was best.
“We keep asking teachers to do more,” Mr. Walton said. “I don't think it's fair to say, "This is the program you do to get $2,000 more in salary.'”
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