School Board of the City of Virginia Beach
Regulation 5-68.1

STUDENTS

Sex Offender Registry Notification

Pursuant to School Board Policy 5-68, the Superintendent shall receive sex offender registry notification via electronic mail. Once the Superintendent has been notified that a registered sex offender resides in the same or contiguous zip codes as any school, the information will be disseminated as appropriate.

A. Receipt and Dissemination of Sex Offender Registry Information

Once notified that a registered sex offender resides in the same or contiguous zip codes as a school within the division, the principals of those schools impacted and appropriate central office administrators and other school employees will be provided with the registry information. This information will be distributed to those employees who are likely, because of their job duties, to observe unauthorized persons on or near school property. Those employees include, but are not limited to: bus drivers and bus assistants; employees responsible for visitor registration; employees with bus duty; security assistants; school resource officers; coaches and assistant coaches; playground supervisors; maintenance personnel; and before and after-care staff employed by the division.

Sex offender registry information will be disseminated with a caution that such information may not be shared with others and may only be used for the administration of criminal justice, screening current or prospective school division employees or volunteers and for the protection of school division students and employees. Employees who share registry information with others are subject to discipline up to and including termination.

B. Use of Sex Offender Registry Information

1. Registered Sex Offender Sighted: If a notified employee sees a registered sex offender on or near school property, around any school division student or attending any school-related activity, the Superintendent or designee shall be notified immediately.

 

2. Student Teachers: Each staff member shall submit to the Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources the name and address of each student teacher the staff member is or may be using immediately. The Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources shall screen each student teacher's name and address against the registry information. Any matches found by the Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources will be confirmed by the Superintendent. If a match is confirmed, the Superintendent shall inform the individual, by mail, that he or she may not be on school property without the express permission of the Superintendent. The notice shall provide the reason with reference to School Board Policy 5-68 and this regulation. The Superintendent shall inform the principal and employees that the individual cannot be used as a student teacher.

 

3. Contractors’ Employees: The following language shall be included in all school division contracts that may involve an employee of the contractor having any contact with a student:

 

The contractor shall not send any employee or agent who is a registered sex offender to any school building, school property or school-related activity. Quarterly, the contractor shall check the registry to determine if the employee is registered.

 

4. School Division Employees: Each time sex offender registry information is received, the Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources shall review it to determine if a school division employee is registered. If a match is found, the Superintendent shall confirm the match with local law enforcement officials. If the match is confirmed, the Superintendent shall notify the School Board.

 

5. Applicants for Employment: Before hiring any person, the Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources shall determine whether the prospective employee is a registered sex offender. If the prospective employee is a registered sex offender, he or she shall not be offered employment with the division.

 

6. Students and Parents of Students: A sex offender registrant who is the parent or guardian of a student shall be permitted to participate in appropriate parent or guardian activities, unless prohibited by court order. Students who are registered sex offenders may not be precluded from attending school.

 

7. Precautions to Protect Students: When the Superintendent or designee determines that it is necessary, because of the presence of a registered sex offender, alternative arrangements may be made for bus and walking routes to and from school, recess and physical education periods, or any other activity in order to protect division students.

 

Legal Reference:

Code of Va. § 19.2-298.1

Code of Va. § 19.2-390.1

Code of Va. § 19.2-390.2

 

Adopted by Superintendent: June 14, 2000