A story from Greenwood County, South Carolina shows why background checks should be run on all workers with access to schools, including contractors and sub-contractors, and not just full time employees.
According to a report on the News Channel 7 website at WSPA.com, a contract worker at a Greenwood County, S.C. school was arrested for disorderly conduct when he allegedly yelled and cursed at police after students complained about his behavior. According to a police report, students at the school claimed the accused man made sexual gestures and asked the children to give him a hug.
The 22-year-old man - a subcontractor working at the school - was charged with public disorderly conduct for allegedly cursing at deputies and school officials while they kicked him off campus.
In their report, News Channel 7 learned that, according to a South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) background check, the man had been accused with sexual misconduct with a child under the age of 16 and sexual misconduct with a child under the age of 11. Although not convicted on those charges, the man had been convicted of aggravated assault.
To ensure a safe workplace (which can include schools), employers following best practices guidelines should run background checks on all employees - from full-time to part-time and from contractors to sub-contractors.