A NEW ROUND OF BACKGROUND CHECKS BEGIN AT ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS NEXT WEEK. SPOKESPERSON MONICA ARMENTA TELLS 770 KKOB THEY’LL START WITH 300 EMPLOYEES AND COMPLETE BY THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR THE 2-THOUSAND EMPLOYEES HIRED BEFORE 1999 WHEN THE CHECKS WERE NOT REQUIRED.
ARMENTA SAYS APS DID A PILOT PROGRAM OF BACKGROUND CHECKS RECENTLY THAT WENT SMOOTHLY. SHE SAYS NEXT WEEK’S CHECKS WILL LOOK FOR FOR CONVICTIONS, ARRESTS, OR ANY RED FLAGS THAT WOULD LEAD APS TO RECONSIDER HIRING AN INDIVIDUAL.
THE CHECKS WILL COST AN EXTRA 85 THOUSAND DOLLARS. THEY’RE IN RESPONSE TO CRITICISM OF APS FOR NOT GETTING INFORMATION ON FORMER DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT JASON MARTINEZ, WHO WAS WANTED IN COLORADO AND CHILD SEX ASSAULT AND ASSAULT CHARGES.
