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Board grants background‑check waivers for several applicants and renews existing waivers
Summary
At the Dec. 19 meeting the board heard personnel‑hearing appeals and approved background‑check waivers for multiple applicants, with varying conditions including reapplication where application inconsistencies were identified.
The Little Rock School District board conducted personnel‑hearing appeals Dec. 19 and voted to grant background‑check waivers to several applicants and to renew six existing district waivers that required reauthorization under Department of Education rules.
The board opened a public personnel hearing — citing Arkansas Code 6‑17‑414 — to consider waiver requests after the district’s background‑check vendor and the Arkansas Department of Education identified historic offenses in routine checks. The administration said it did not oppose the requested waivers and recommended different resolutions depending on each applicant’s circumstances.
Decisions and conditions - Charlene Jackson: the administration recommended and the board approved option 3 — grant the waiver but require the applicant to reapply for employment possibilities because of irregularities on the employment application. The board approved the corresponding resolution.
- Carolyn Nolley: the board approved a waiver under option 3, with administration noting the underlying offense dated to 1988 and that the administration did not oppose a waiver.
- Dion Hayes: the board approved a waiver under option 1; Hayes had disclosed the underlying offense on his application and is currently employed in transportation.
- Six other district employees whose waivers were previously granted were renewed by board action to comply with a new five‑year reauthorization requirement; administration said the employees had continuous service and no performance issues.
Legal basis and process Board members and administration cited Arkansas Code 6‑17‑414 as the authority permitting employees to request waivers from board disqualifications. The hearing record included Department of Education notices, court orders provided by applicants (in at least one case, an order to seal/expunge), and the district’s background‑check documentation. The board discussed factors suggested in statute and policy, including the age of offenses, subsequent work history and whether applicants posed threats to student safety.
Ending: The board authorized administration to prepare resolutions and related paperwork for signature and for submission to the Arkansas Department of Education as required.
