Fairfax County becomes 1st Virginia school district to start using FBI background check program
Fairfax County Residents Schools in Virginia has started using the FBI s Rap Back continuous background check initiative a step district leaders expect will enhance current safety protocols Virginia s largest school division is the first in the state to start using the undertaking which has been implemented through a collaboration with Virginia State Police The school system has been working with the agency for more than a year to launch the plan The implementation comes three years after an case involving a Glasgow Middle School counselor resulted in calls for stronger safety measures including the use of the Rap Back plan The school system learned Darren Thornton was able to remain on the job for over a year despite an arrest and conviction for a sex offense Chesterfield County police reported they tried to alert then-Superintendent Scott Brabrand but the messages bounced back The district only learned about the first arrest and conviction when Thornton was arrested for a second time Related stories Background checks Tips for employers and applicants What s changing in DC-area school districts this fall We ve lost trust Fairfax Co superintendent speaks to Glasgow families about ex-school counselor Virginia State Police were directed to use services such as the Rap Back activity as part of regulation passed through the state s General Assembly Rap Back is continuous fingerprinting monitoring noted William Solomon Fairfax County Community Schools HR chief Previously all of our employees were fingerprinted as required by law but that fingerprinting is point-in-time The plan allows the division to monitor results regularly rather than get point-in-time results Solomon disclosed Whenever there s an arrest or conviction or criminal or court activity the school division is notified straightaway and can take any necessary actions Before employees were required to self-report those circumstances within hours and police are responsible for notifying the school district of criminal activity That can lead to certain gaps because you re relying on people to send emails or people to send information versus a system that s able to tell you in real time rapid fashion Solomon mentioned So far school division employees have been enrolled in Rap Back and the remaining workers are expected to be enrolled by October Solomon declared They re sending between and prints each day to Virginia State Police Independent contractors and Level participants those working directly with students without staff oversight will also be enrolled Fairfax County is piloting the rollout before other Virginia school systems start to use the scheme It helps keep students safe because you know directly Solomon mentioned As an administration and as a school system we can take immediate action when there is an arrest a conviction or other criminal activity that would require us to take action In a comment Superintendent Michelle Reid noted the district is converting a reactive safety measure into a proactive safeguard for our entire school neighborhood Appealed if use of the undertaking has already led the school system to get information it might have received late or not at all without using it Solomon declared I can share with you that the system is working as intended Source
