Every employee, volunteer or independent contractor who works with the Concord School District will be required to undergo a criminal background check and do training in child abuse prevention, according to a recently-updated policy.

At the monthly meeting of the Concord School Board Monday night, the board passed two policies that reframe and clarify who is required to have background checks and training. The policies are part of an overall effort by the board and the district Title IX coordinator to create more comprehensive safeguards for students in the aftermath of the 2019 arrest of former teacher Howie Leung, who is accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting a former Concord student.

“We felt that in light of, just, everything, that would make parents and everybody else much more comfortable to know that everybody who was in our schools volunteering had been vetted,” said board member Gina Cannon, chair of the board’s Communications and Policy Committee.

The first policy, which passed unanimously, requires every employee, contractor or volunteer to undergo a formal state and FBI criminal history check through the state of New Hampshire, with fingerprinting. The policy clarifies that that background checks are mandatory for all employees (including student teachers, custodial staff and coaches), volunteers (including parents) and employees of contractors such as photographers, school vendors or dental evaluators.

The policy passed in the wake of a November incident in which a school picture day photographer, employed by a contracted photography company, allegedly approached a Concord High student about taking part in a “modeling project,” and gave the student a card with a phone number and link to a pornographic website.

According to state law, having certain felonies on a criminal record prohibits someone from employment in the school district. Having a misdemeanor on record doesn’t automatically disqualify someone from employment – rather, it is up to the discretion of the superintendent whether or not to make the hire. 

The other policy, which also passed unanimously, requires those same people to undergo training every two years related to sexual assault and harassment training and identifying, preventing and reporting child sexual abuse. 

The board is also considering another policy update that would further clarify the rules around the selection and responsibilities of school volunteers, like parents and community members. The policy would reiterate the need for background checks on all volunteers.

The district is looking at additional ways to fingerprint parent volunteers, such as at school open houses, after a COVID-19-related backlog with police department appointments in 2020.

The volunteer policy will be up for a vote at the next monthly board meeting on March 1.

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