Submission by Jeffrey Hartinger:
As a tutor for the Buffalo Public School District, I went to City Hall on Thursday, February 24 in order to undergo a fingerprinting session, which would be used for a back round check and to allow me to work with urban youth in the city. After arriving, the room quickly filled with half a dozen individuals who would go on to work with children; whether teachers, tutors, or after-school mentors. In addition, all of us had another aspect in common: Not one of us, myself included, was asked for identification when we got fingerprinted.
After I had completed the process, I spoke with the woman in charge and questioned her to why I, as well as the others, were asked to produce a license, passport, or any other form of identification. I was greeted with the response of "It is all digital now, we do need to ask for identification."
After I left the office, I was thinking about the situation as the day progressed and it troubled me deeply. I called the office and I talked once again with the woman who I dealt with earlier that day. I informed her of my view on the topic, which is: Although the process is now digital, in no way does this relate to the aspect of one presenting identification. Although few and far between, how are Buffalo public schools supposed to know if John Doe submits fingerprints for his friend, John Roe? Further, could they be a sex offender? A criminal? Sure, the names are often cross referenced, but when the name of the employee and the finger prints do not match up, who is to tell the outcome of this situation?
The woman agreed and I was given the email of Human Resources. I sent two emails on two separate occasions, in which I did not receive a response, close to a week later. In my email, I was requesting information on the digital finger printing policy and the view of human resources on the incident which occurred. As the result of no reply, I contacted the office via telephone and stated my issue verbally, in which a hurried employee said, "I am not one who reads the emails, but I will pass the information along to my colleagues. Thank you."
I am not sure if this information will be passed along, and more importantly, I am not sure if the workers are aware of the proper finger printing procedures. After the call, I contacted the Sheriffs office of Buffalo, to which I was told that identification was to be checked "under all circumstances."
The children in our city should be cherished and Buffalo should take every action necessary to ensure their safety at all times, especially when they are left in the care of another adult. Please take all of the information into consideration and if you feel as I do, please contact the Buffalo Public Schools in order to make sure the legal procedures are being followed when future district workers are hired to work with the children of Buffalo.
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As a tutor for the Buffalo Public School District, I went to City Hall on Thursday, February 24 in order to undergo a fingerprinting session, which would be used for a back round check and to allow me to work with urban youth in the city. After arriving, the room quickly filled with half a dozen individuals who would go on to work with children; whether teachers, tutors, or after-school mentors. In addition, all of us had another aspect in common: Not one of us, myself included, was asked for identification when we got fingerprinted.
After I had completed the process, I spoke with the woman in charge and questioned her to why I, as well as the others, were asked to produce a license, passport, or any other form of identification. I was greeted with the response of "It is all digital now, we do need to ask for identification."
After I left the office, I was thinking about the situation as the day progressed and it troubled me deeply. I called the office and I talked once again with the woman who I dealt with earlier that day. I informed her of my view on the topic, which is: Although the process is now digital, in no way does this relate to the aspect of one presenting identification. Although few and far between, how are Buffalo public schools supposed to know if John Doe submits fingerprints for his friend, John Roe? Further, could they be a sex offender? A criminal? Sure, the names are often cross referenced, but when the name of the employee and the finger prints do not match up, who is to tell the outcome of this situation?
The woman agreed and I was given the email of Human Resources. I sent two emails on two separate occasions, in which I did not receive a response, close to a week later. In my email, I was requesting information on the digital finger printing policy and the view of human resources on the incident which occurred. As the result of no reply, I contacted the office via telephone and stated my issue verbally, in which a hurried employee said, "I am not one who reads the emails, but I will pass the information along to my colleagues. Thank you."
I am not sure if this information will be passed along, and more importantly, I am not sure if the workers are aware of the proper finger printing procedures. After the call, I contacted the Sheriffs office of Buffalo, to which I was told that identification was to be checked "under all circumstances."
The children in our city should be cherished and Buffalo should take every action necessary to ensure their safety at all times, especially when they are left in the care of another adult. Please take all of the information into consideration and if you feel as I do, please contact the Buffalo Public Schools in order to make sure the legal procedures are being followed when future district workers are hired to work with the children of Buffalo.
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Great way to come up with a requirement and not enforce it properly. It's similar to the way the residency requirement isn't enforced. I know of two principalsand several teachers in the district who live in the burbs and maintain rentals in the city for an address.