Portsmouth school workers must report crime charges

Posted to: Crime Education News Portsmouth
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By Cheryl Ross
The Virginian-Pilot
© August 26, 2011

PORTSMOUTH

School division employees will now have to notify the superintendent if they've been charged with a crime, and they could be fired if they don't.

The School Board unanimously approved the measure Thursday, a policy revision recommended by the administration. The recommendation came on the heels of news reports this year about a division employee convicted of driving under the influence after being hired by Portsmouth schools.

The division had performed background checks before hiring but not afterward. The new rule also requires that employees charged with a felony or certain misdemeanors must undergo an FBI background investigation.

The division's notification requirement puts it in line with other divisions in South Hampton Roads, which already require employees to report criminal charges.

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