Board OKs checks for trip chaperones 
Friday, November 09, 2007

By
Tarryl Jackson

Any chaperone who plans to go on overnight or out-of-state trips at Northwest Community Schools will first undergo a background check, starting in the spring.

The Northwest School Board on Wednesday approved a chaperone background application, which will need to be filled out a month before the trip.

``The reality is, times have changed,'' said board Vice President Connie Sayles. ``We have to adjust and protect our kids and protect ourselves, too.'' 

District officials said the background checks are to ensure students' safety but did not cite a particular incident.

Chaperones will be checked for any felonies or misdemeanors, and applications will be approved by Superintendent Emily Kress.

The board vote was 4-1, with Jim Lawrie voting no. He said he thought there may be some opposition from parents and community members.

Parent Connie Doher said background checks on chaperones do not sound bad. However, she worried they may discourage volunteers, even if they do not have anything on their records. ``They just don't want to deal with the hassle,'' she said. 

Parent Dave Price said, ``How can background checks be a bad thing? It never hurts to have a background check.''

Price said district officials need to explain the checks' purpose to potential chaperones. 
Only overnight and out-of-state trips need to be approved by the school board. The background checks will start with trips during spring break in early April.