Looks like the city is cracking down on football coaches, assistant coaches and cheerleading coaches.
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/breaking/s_757758.html
Harper ordered the leagues to conduct background checks on all adults who work with children and made clearance of those checks a requirement before they could receive credentials, which are required to be present on the field.
Update September 22, 2011 9:40 a.m. Two Mt. Lebanon youth football coaches step down
7 comments:
MLHS got a clearance for an assistant swimming coach in 3 days.
Here is a link to a film clip by WTAE reporter Marcia Cipirani on this story showing Chief Harper's side of the story.
http://www.wtae.com/video/29246993/detail.html
Bill Hook
Getting a clearance isn't rocket science. The forms are available on the PA Dept. of Ed's website for any group to use.
All volunteers at all Catholic parishes and schools (even if they are just counting the Sunday collection and are no where near children) need clearances to step foot on the property. The volunteers are also required to attend a three hour workshop on child abuse.
Page 18 of the 25 page report from the Auditor General dated June 2010
http://www.mtlsd.org/district/stuff
/c10stateauditreportjune2010.pdf states that the District took no action regarding bus drivers' clearances. According to Policy GBEC, revised March 21, 2011, bus drivers are now subject to drug and alchohol testing. There is no mention of any kind of clearances required other than that.
Maybe now is the time for the School District and the Municipality to think about security clearances across the board.
Elaine
Whether or not Lebo has a stated policy regarding bus driver clearances, state law requires that all school employees (including contractors) that have any contact with children need to have clearances. The bus driver issue may not be mentioned in the Lebo policy document since it is already state law.
I would be interested in how well school districts across the state are complying with the state law on employee clearances. I know that the Diocese of Pittsburgh puts a lot of pressure on Catholic school principals to make sure teachers, coaches, custodians, lunch ladies, and the like clearances are up to date.
Michael,
Yes, the school districts require Act 33 (PA Child Abuse Clearance) and 34 (PA State Police Request for Criminal Records Check) clearances, but what about the agencies not connected with the school districts?
"Pennsylvania Acts 33 and 34 require that prospective employees of agencies serving children (Act 33) and public and private schools (Act 34)
Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_act_33-34_clearance#ixzz1YgY9hUi1 "
What about the Mt. Lebanon Youth Tiddlywinks Association? There is nothing in the Home Rule Charter regarding clearances for youth organizations that are listed on the municipal website or approved by the Rec Center. As discussed at Monday's commission meeting, the discussion centered around boards and committees, but that is as far as it went. You're right, Michael. Getting a clearance isn't rocket science. Just doing a Google search for PA 33 and 34 clearances is all it takes. There are many websites that explain the process. But who ultimately is responsible for enforcing this?
Elaine
Elaine,
Unfortunately, the law only applies to employees and not volunteers. Most local youth organizations depend on volunteers to run their programs. Rec department staff probably are required to have clearances, but volunteer coaches are not. As a parent, I think the Red. department volunteers should have clearances.
I think most youth organizations that are floating around out there are not part of Mt. Lebanon's Rec. department, and therefore, have no real oversight and accountability. They may have "Mt. Lebanon" in their title, but they are not affiliated with the municipal government. Most are staffed by volunteer labor as well.
Churches are volunteer labor and so are the Boy Scout leaders. When will the Youth Sports groups say enough is enough? Youth Sports Directors should be subject to background checks too and so should School Directors.
John Ewing
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