Fingerprinting for drivers approved
By Keri Luiz
Assistant Editor
Benicia school trustees on Thursday approved requiring fingerprinting of parents who volunteer to drive students to different off-campus school functions.
“The board requested that staff add a line to the board policy that required that all drivers on field trips be fingerprinted. That has been added to the policy and I am bringing it forth for your approval,” Superintendent Janice Adams said.
Board president Rosie Switzer expressed concern about the cost fingerprinting incur for those who wanted to volunteer to drive.
“The problem is that it is $70 per person,” Switzer said. “It puts many of the schools at a disadvantage because parents can’t really afford it.”
Switzer pointed to the policy at Benicia Middle School, which “is already successfully incorporating Megan’s Law website, which reports if a person is a pedophile. If school staff takes the names of the people who are turning in the information, and staff goes online, then we can get a clearance with those people who are not putting our kids at risk … at no cost.”
Trustee André Stewart thought the Megan’s Law site was a good resource, but voiced concerns over using it to screen potential drivers.
“My concern is they will look up the name they are given. If I say my name is Andrew Stewart, they look up the name Andrew Stewart. If André Stewart has a problem, André Stewart is not looked up.
“My fingerprint I can’t change. I can change my name,” he said. He also cited delays in updates to the state Megan’s Law website, a registry of sex offenders (www.meganslaw.ca.gov/).
Trustee Gary Wing made another suggestion. “I think we need to have a grace period where, starting next school year, fingerprints will be required. That will give people enough time to save the money.”
During public comment a student asked whether the Megan’s Law website had information on other crimes besides sex crimes.
“I like that question,” Stewart said. “How did you get so smart? I wish I had thought of that. Great question.”
“I believe it is for registered sex offenders only,” Adams said.
The motion to require fingerprinting starting next school year was unanimously approved, 3-0. Trustees Dana Dean and Steve Messina were absent.
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The state needs to have a way to cross-check people who have already been fingerprinted by the state for the same reason through another organization. Waste of $$ to do it numerous times!