Tulsa Public Schools Widen Realm of Background Checks

Tulsa Public Schools (TPS) recently adopted a new program that will broaden the realm of their background checks on both volunteers and applicants. Previously, TPS only conducted background searches at a statewide level. Now, the searches will be more extensive, having volunteer and applicants be screened against the National Sex Offender Registry. In addition, TPS will also require a more in depth, multi-state, criminal background check be completed.

The new program was developed in response to the arrests of two Tulsa school bus drivers during the first two weeks of the 2005-06 school year. Patrick Jess Rodriguez was jailed for outstanding traffic warrants after he was caught speeding by police while driving a Tulsa school bus. The other, Barre Kirk McGowen, was taken in for driving under the influence, after police found his school bus, full of students, stopped in the middle of the intersection. Apparently he told police that he had injected “crank” several hours before.

As a result, both bus drivers were fired and TPS, starting on December 1, 2006, began using this new background screening standard for volunteers and applicants. Thankfully, more schools systems, such as TPS, are creating policies which mandate extensive background checks on all people who would be in contact and/or responsible for children.