Temporary Portsmouth School Employees Hired Without Background Checks

Background checks are mandatory for most employees everywhere, but, as the Portsmouth School Committee learned Tuesday, a flaw in the hiring process has not checked all employees of the Portsmouth School District. 

An audit recently revealed some temporary and seasonal employees and coaches, who have worked in the Portsmouth School District for years, were hired without background checks, according to Portsmouth School Superintendent Lynn Krizic. 

"These are longtime, repeat coaches who have been with the district for years," said Krizic. "It was the system, not the workers. I think we were proactive in doing the audit and now we're saying it's important to put the pieces in place. The process (background checks) has already started." 

EastBayRI reports Portsmouth School Committee members were surprised at the news that not all coaches have gone through the same vetting process as full-time school employees. 

These individuals are coaches that are not current employees of the school district, not permanent or full-time employees. 

"It's important to note that these are parents and other members of the community. Not people from outside," Portsmouth School Superintendent Krizic said. 

These temporary and seasonal employees will now go through the same background checks as other employees, she said.