Schools

Board Rejects Support of Sexual Predator Resolution

Cherokee school district staff said it already performs background checks, and cited the resolution as another unfunded federal mandate

The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday rejected a request from one of its members to express support of a resolution designed to protect children from sexual and violent predators.

The board voted 2-4, with both Michael Geist and Kelly Marlow in favor, to bypass supporting House Resolution 2083, the Protecting Students from Sexual and Violent Predators Act. 

Board member Rob Usher was not present.

The resolution, which has only passed the U.S. House of Representatives, would urge state educational agencies to increase the frequency of performing criminal background checks on its employees, to submit background checks to four different agencies on each employee in every state they've lived in, among other requirements.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank Petruzielo was hesitant to recommend to the board that it approve Geist's resolution. He noted that the bill has not even been considered by the U.S. Senate, and could take on a different flavor, thus morphing into something that the board had not envisioned.

He noted the district already performs criminal background checks on its employees, which he said has a cost associated to it. He also said he didn't see any funding mechanism for local entities to abide by the resolution, leading him to conclude the resolution is another "federal unfunded mandate."

School Board Attorney Tom Roach agreed. He noted the resolution is "broad-brushed," and added the district has sufficient safeguards in place to protect against hiring predators.

"It sounds really good, but I don’t know if it’s really calculated to do what it’s intended to do," he said of the resolution.

Geist said he thought supporting the resolution would be in the best interest of the district, and said it has broad bipartisan support in the United States Congress. He noted he felt it would be proper for the district to send an "attaboy" commendation to the federal legislative body.

"If this resolution has support you say it does, (then) I doubt...the approval of this board will make a big difference," the superintendent said. 

Board members also rejected a request from Geist to amend its minutes policy. Geist wanted the board to consider amending the policy to require any supporting documents or letters handed out to members be attached to subsequent minutes of meetings. 

The request was also rejected by a vote of 2-4, with Geist and Marlow voting in favor. 

Geist said his intention was to make these same documents available to the public. The superintendent said the district keeps a folder filled with any documents or letters on file, so the public can come by and review those documents at their leisure.

Repeating the cliche "if it ain't broke, don't fix it," Petruzielo said there was no need to attach the documents to the meeting minutes since the public can already readily access them if they choose to do so.

Marlow added she was in favor of the change, as the amendment "speaks to transparency and open government."

However, Roach agreed the change was also unnecessary. He noted the district has moved away from including excess documentation in its minutes, and said minutes from board meetings should only reflect motions made on agenda items, votes taken and the resulting action of votes. 

Anything else "muddies the waters of the official action of the board."

The board also voted 5-1, with Marlow opposing, the final order of the ethics violation ruling and sanctions against the District 1 member. 

Roach said the final order was required as board policy stipulates a written summary of the proceeds be filed and for Marlow to be notified of the order. 

Don’t miss any of the local news you care about. Subscribe to Canton-Sixes Patch’s free newsletterlike us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here