Special Report: Reference Checks

Second grade teacher Jon White from Thomas Paine Elementary School in Urbana is accused of sexually abusing three of his students.  When he was hired by the district, he gave administrators three letters of recommendation.  But the district never followed-up.   What would a check have found?  Carmelita Thomas is the Human Resources Director for Urbana Schools.  She doesn't think, "There's really any way to predict what kind of employee that he was."  But could there have been a hint of trouble to come.  White was suspended for a week from Unit Five schools in Normal in 2004.  The district there investigated allegations of inappropriate behavior and nothing criminal.  Thomas says even if they had checked on his references, she's not sure they would have heard anything negative.  Thomas adds, "I know that districts have liability and there's some information they may be hesitant to disclose because of that liability."   But a regional superintendent says schools should not be afraid of being sued.  Dick Shelby from the Regional Office of Education #39 says the information a previous employer provides is protected by state law as long as the information is truthful and related to job performance.   But he warns some information is off limits.  Shelby explains, "Any disciplinary action taken against a teacher four years ago, they are prohibited from disclosing that unless through legal action."  According to Urbana policy, school administrators are to ask ten questions when checking a reference.  They're also supposed to fill out a form documenting the answers given.