266 Chicago School Employees Fail Background Checks; Including 60 Teachers!

Victor Skinner : Sep 6, 2018
EAGNews.org

"There is no doubt that the overwhelming majority of adults serving in our schools are fully committed to keeping children safe, and the small minority of employees whose records require deep inquiry will receive the thorough review they deserve." -CPS CEO Janice Jackson

[EAGNews.com] Hundreds of Chicago Public Schools employees were banned from the first day of class Tuesday after they failed criminal background checks spawned from news reports of criminals working in schools. (Image source: CPS/via EAGNews)

CPS CEO Janice Jackson told the Chicago Tribune 266 employees were flagged for criminal behavior and banned, while another 245 refused to submit fingerprints for the checks. The first group, which includes 60 teachers, is now under review to determine if they are a threat to children, while the second group will be disqualified from employment if they don't get with the program, she said.

Jackson said employees were flagged for violence, sexual misconduct, drug activity or other dangerous crimes, which means the city employs potentially hundreds of criminals to work with students in schools.

"CPS will be conducting thorough investigations in all of these instances to better understand the circumstances of each unique case. Employees were only removed based on the results of their background checks if arrests were identified that suggest a potential history of violence, sexual misconduct, or dangerous criminal activity," Jackson said.

According to the Tribune, "CPS officials began the massive effort to redo background checks for school employees in June following a Tribune investigation that found some CPS employees who abused students had criminal backgrounds."

The $3 million effort involved collecting fresh fingerprints to run employees through state and federal databases, though district officials won't discuss how they determine which employees stay and which are let go. Jackson said convictions for sex abuse, some drugs and other crimes result in immediate termination, but would not reveal how many CPS employees have been fired.

"There is no doubt that the overwhelming majority of adults serving in our schools are fully committed to keeping children safe, and the small minority of employees whose records require deep inquiry will receive the thorough review they deserve," Jackson said.

For about 2,000 CPS employees, that process was still ongoing last week, with just days left before the new school year. CPS officials required employees to resubmit fingerprints by Aug. 3, but several teachers told WMAQ they received emails last week reminding them they can't come to work until they get an official go-ahead... Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here.

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