News-Record.com

We are instructed what to do in airline emergencies, the exits are pointed out etc... Where is the instruction for school buses? Do students get ANY instruction on emergency windows and exits? What are they taught, if anything, to do in varying emergency situations?

This article brings about an excellent point. And with the Looooooong bus rides that the kids in Guilford County are expected to endure, I would insist that each year--or even semester, kids be put through a mock emergency drill.

I'm thankful that the kids in the story were all unharmed. The boy making the call should be recognized for his critical thinking. I'm also thankful that Santa brought my teenager a cell phone for Christmas!

Great story. I hope Guilford County is paying attention.

Once upon a time, newspapers used database analysis to check the driving records (and sometimes full criminal records) of school bus drivers. But then, courtesy of Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., we got the "Boxer Amendment," which closed DMV records nationwide to the press.

Thanks for that, Senator. My kids are SOOOO much safer.

Lex,

Not familiar with this amendment - DMV records may be closed to the press but surely the schools are doing background checks on the bus drivers.
They do checks on other school personnel who work with children.

In today's modern world of two working parents; parents who travel; kids in sports; changed is schedules; gang fights that often occurrence in our schools; emegency days like "911", I feel all kids who need them and can afford them should carry a cell phone.

They should be turned on "silent" in schools and not be used within the building except by permission of school personnel. Same courtesy rules for using cell phones should apply to students as adults; and absolutely no driving while talking on a cell phone.

Barbara Ann,

What about background checks for teaching assistants, such as the guy from Andrews charged with second-degree rape? If the schools checked, they missed his previous convictions on other felony charges.

Doug,

Part of the problem is that background checks often are limited or flawed. Crimes committed 20 or more years ago may not show up because those records haven't been entered into a database.

Also, crimes committed outside of North Carolina often don't show up. I've talked with school officials and I know they have tried to upgrade and refine their background check process.

But sometimes, a convicted felon can slip through the process even if the school district does a thorough background check. After all, district officials have to depend on the accuracy of records that are beyond their control.

Doug and Bruce,

Glad you are reading our comments. I am for more thorough background checks throughout all the jobs in our schools. How that can be accomplished with accuracy is another question but it needs to be a priority.

I know when I started substitute teaching years ago, the schools provided one for North Carolina. Since I had only lived here a few years, I paid for mine from Virginia and it was not very expensive.

What really concerns me deeply is that the current janitorial contractor for GCS hires temps to be janitors in our schools. It is my understanding that it is up to the contractor to provide these background checks on the temps. My friends who teach have said that some of these janitorial temps were discharged because of their past records for drinking and/or criminal charges involving kids.

This to me is very scary. I have addressed this in a public speech to the school board and in writing. What also concerns me is I have seen temporary janitors plop on a "Substitute" badge in elementary schools. Young children think of a "Substitute" badge as a teacher who they should be able to trust (and who at least as far as I know has gone through somewhat of a background check). What if this is a "temp" who has slipped through the cracks? I have requested that all Guilford County employees wear a photo ID, including substitutes. Anyone can walk in a school and easily pick up a badge. Anyone can also sign a false name and put on a volunteer badge. It is so easy.

Especially in our trailer elementary schools - kids can be open targets for any preditors.

Barbara Ann: The only guarantee would be the use of a national criminal-record database to which reporting was mandatory. However, the closest we have to such a thing is the FBI's criminal-record database, and years ago, for reasons I now cannot recall, the Supreme Court ruled that these records are NOT public.

Lex,

As I recall and it's been awhile, when I became employed with GCS you signed a permission slip for them to do a background check. Would that make using the data base legal?

BRUCE,

Just read the front page local section of the HPE today which stated that Guilford County Schools KNEW that the teacher assistant at Andrews who just got in trouble had been a convicted felon? They admitted to knowing this. I wonder what is GCS's policy on hiring convicted felons?

Also did you run this story the day before? I saw nothing in today's N & R?

Also there was a gang fight at SW High Friday am - did you miss that story too?

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