Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Employee Screening and Conduct

All San Juan Unified School District employees are required to go through a fingerprinting and background check process before starting with the district. This process provides any existing criminal records and notifies district officials if any subsequent criminal records are created. As part of the hiring process, applicants must also submit professional references, which are checked before an offer of employment is made. 

After submitting fingerprints, we receive confidential information regarding the history and background of each individual from the California Department of Justice and/or FBI. Based on the information we receive, it is then determined if that individual is cleared to work.

There are some convictions that would immediately disqualify an individual from being hired, such as those that involve neglect or harm to minors, possession or selling of narcotics, etc.

You can learn more through the California Education Code 45125.1, found here.

Once hired, staff must complete sexual harassment and mandated reporter training. These trainings emphasize the requirements to report concerns promptly and to take action. 

Harassment training reviews appropriate conduct between individuals and are required of staff every other year. Mandated reporter training covers an employee's legal responsibility to report concerns of safety or harm being caused to children to authorities and are required on an annual basis. 

Yes, volunteers and contracted staff working directly with students must complete a background screening process similar to that of employees.

If you suspect misconduct by a San Juan Unified employee, report it immediately to the school administration or the district’s Human Resources department at (916) 971-7700. District staff will investigate and involve law enforcement if appropriate to the allegation. If the allegation involves potential harm to students, you may also report it to local law enforcement.

The district takes all allegations seriously and will investigate concerns. Depending on the nature of the allegation, it may involve HR, school administrators, legal counsel and law enforcement.

The safety of our students is our first priority. As such, we must ensure that all allegations are fully investigated and that the process is allowed to proceed without risk to its integrity. To protect the rights of victims and follow the requirements of due process, the district is unable to share detailed information. We also work closely with law enforcement to support their investigations and ensure that the information we share does not compromise their work.