Audit in Utah Finds Convicted Felons Working as School Bus Drivers
A recent audit in Utah found several convicted felons working as school bus drivers as well as people who should not be allowed to drive due to bad driving records.
Ten school bus drivers were found to have motor vehicle violations significant enough to raise concern about them driving children to and from school.
Nine were found to have criminal records which involved violence and five bus drivers were convicted of crimes after they were hired. The criminal records found included child abuse and/or neglect, aggravated assault and negligent manslaughter.
This raises the obvious question, "Why aren't background checks being conducted on the people entrusted to transport children to and from school?"
School districts in Utah claim to run criminal background checks on potential employees, but no requirement exists for periodic background checks after a person is hired. The audit is recommending an annual motor vehicle check on all school bus drivers.
Kelly Orton, Salt Lake City's director of support services claimed that performing regular criminal background checks on employees would not be realistic due to being "a logistical and financial nightmare."
On the positive side, the audit did find that school busing in Utah is the safest way to get kids to school and it is being done effectively.
Ten school bus drivers were found to have motor vehicle violations significant enough to raise concern about them driving children to and from school.
Nine were found to have criminal records which involved violence and five bus drivers were convicted of crimes after they were hired. The criminal records found included child abuse and/or neglect, aggravated assault and negligent manslaughter.
This raises the obvious question, "Why aren't background checks being conducted on the people entrusted to transport children to and from school?"
School districts in Utah claim to run criminal background checks on potential employees, but no requirement exists for periodic background checks after a person is hired. The audit is recommending an annual motor vehicle check on all school bus drivers.
Kelly Orton, Salt Lake City's director of support services claimed that performing regular criminal background checks on employees would not be realistic due to being "a logistical and financial nightmare."
On the positive side, the audit did find that school busing in Utah is the safest way to get kids to school and it is being done effectively.
Labels: background checks, school background checks, school bus drivers, utah
posted by JenWiehl at 7:00 AM
9 Comments:
ie: Audit in Utah Finds School Bus Administrators are Reckless and Irresponsible.
I am kind of surprised that Employers are not notified when their employees are in trouble with the law. But even more surprising is that background checks are not being ran at all. Anyone who works around children should be trustworthy!
I'll bet that bus driver "Otto" from The Simpsons is a convicted felon. Something about him makes me uneasy... and I tend to think of myself as a pretty decent judge of character. I suppose Principle Skinner isn't running background checks. Tisk tisk.
Wonder what's more of a nightmare...the financial cost of a background check or a bus full of dead kids?
There should be a law that any potential applicant working for a school should go through a mandatory background check. Think about it: What if bus driver got into an accident? Who do you think would be liable!? The school! Honestly, does the school want a law suit on their hands? I think not.
Mandatory checks for every working person.
I think that it is funny how company's background check individuals who deliver pizza but School Districts fail to background check bus drivers who deliver children. What is this world coming to!
Companies need to offer discounts on background checks for school bus drivers, teachers, and coaches. And for cub scout leaders too.
There should be a law that background
checks are done for all employees that deal with children on a daily bases.
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