Reader comments
State Board of Education reacts to audit, implements arrest, criminal background rules

It isn't the teachers that are having the problems.

It is the additional help like the custodians, aides, support staff, etc.

Passing along another $65 to the teachers isn't going to help. The state should cover the cost of that not the teachers.

Just one more way to stick it to them.

It is a wonder we can get anyone to set foot in a classroom in Utah.

Why only focus on teachers? We should be requiring background checks on all public jobs. These people have access to our taxes, so make sure they aren't criminals. Check elected officials every year- they control everything in our city, county, and state. Make sure these people aren't criminals since they pass our laws, collect our taxes, and spend our taxes. Politicians can have a more damaging impact on the whole state than a few teachers can.

Really. Then I guess the teachers in both Bountiful and Jordan who were arrested recently for having relations with their students were really custodians and support staff in disguise?

How about we say this: It isn't ONLY the teachers. That's better.

The cost is not $60, but $65 to renew a current teaching license and the fingerprinting fee or background check fee is $69. Not to split hairs, but if the reporter and the USOE do not know how much it is to relicense and what the fingerprinting fee is, why are they reporting and giving out inaccurate information? And first-year teachers only get a 3 year license.

Not noted is that if the first year teacher received their degree at a Utah State-run University, their background check and first license was part of their Student Teaching fees.

Check them all, teachers, support staff, bus drivers, custodians, coaches, etc.

Every year, at least.

If it saves just one kid from a predator educator, it is worth it.

Too bad the 99.5% who are great citizens have to endure (and pay) for these intrusions, but it is important to root out the bad apples.

Don't feel bad, teachers, law abiding gun owners have to get background checks every time they buy a gun. Concealed weapon permit holders have their background checked EVERY DAY. Ostensibly to track down criminals who are stupid enough to buy a gun using their own ID, or to get a permit to carry a gun.

It's for the children.

It's always for the children. That is why they became teachers in the first place.

They shouldn't also have to pay for becoming a teacher in one more way.

The state should have no problem covering this fee for the teachers.

No wonder they are all leaving for greener pastures.

I hope this is an open and ethical process so that it is not used to target individuals or groups.

How is the integrity of the process going to be guaranteed?

With Utah Teachers raping and molesting children at a far higher rate than Catholic Priests, it's only ethical, intelligent, and safe to do annual background checks of Teachers who are entrusted with our little ones for hours and hours each day.

Why do we keep increasing how much we spend on education but we have a big outcry that we are doing background checks a thousandth as often as we do background checks for concealed weapons permit holders? What do they have to hide?

And why not do mandatory annual and random drug tests for teachers, administrators, etc. as well?

Teachers can afford it. Why do we always pretend they all make the starting salary of a snot-nosed twenty-two year old teacher who just graduated from SLCC? The average salary of teachers and administrators is far higher than the average salary of policemen.

Utah taxpayers have doubled our education expenditures in the past few years; they can afford to do a background check and ongoing drug tests to keep our children safe.

Also, why is there no law to immediately ban a teacher from the classroom for life if he/she drives drunk?

On the whole, Utah does not seem to appreciate its educators. Roadblocks continue to drive out the best and keep them away. Insults abound, so it is no surprise Utah will slowly but surly lose ground as the best leave, because they do not choose to be regarded as "snotty nosed" . Teachers are constantly jumping hoops that most people would cringe to do year after year. Now we face cutting days in the classroom, and now you want us to continually test at our expense. Teachers face obstacles most with a college education never have to face. 20 minute lunches, being called names and insults daily, practicing lock downs from gun toting intruders, and another cut in pay.
If you think education and teachers are not worth the investment? Try competing in this world economy.
Fortunately I have more parents who support and appreciate all the behind the scene work teachers put in. No one is perfect, but how many of you have to take tests that change or are negated year after year to prove your college training is valid? Yearly evaluations, guilty until proven innocent? Who are you going to get to put up with this?

A background check for a fire arm is $10.00 what gives?

Gosh durn teachers...get em boys.

Why must I pay to do my job [as a teacher]? I support the periodic background checks but why should I, as a teacher foot the bill? If the taxpayers want this (I am a tax payer and I want it) then let the taxpayers pay for it. To reply to Bad Apples: What makes you think we can afford it? We already pay for a big chunk: Extra education, school supplies, fees, and we get laid off a 3rd of every year (we only get paid for days worked, i.e. no paid holidays).

To reply to the comment "It Isn't the teachers" you may be correct, however a background check still wouldn't have helped the boy. Those teacher's had no criminal record.I would posit most of the scum that hurt our children in schools have no criminal background. Additionally, how would, say, firing a person who gets a drunk driving citation(or other unrelated crime) help prevent a child from being abused? Has anyone done a correlation study to see if perverts have a higher chance of being arrested (for unrelated crimes)than someone who would not harm a child? How many of those that have hurt children have a criminal past at all? Where is the study?