The Board of Education, upon recommendation of the Superintendent, votes on the employment of all staff members. In approving applicants the Board will be guided by the desire to obtain individuals committed to providing the highest quality education for the District's students. For Title I staff qualifications and hiring, refer to Policy and Regulation 1621 - Title I.

No person will be employed by the Board until the District obtains a clear criminal records check and a clear check of the Child Abuse/Neglect Registry maintained by the Missouri Department of Social Services. All finalists for an employment position will be required to sign a release of liability authorizing prior employers, including school districts, to furnish any information about the applicant and the applicant's work performance, including but not limited to discipline records and performance evaluations. The administration may also conduct random background checks after employment. Failure to check references and prior employment for new hires prior to their start date may result in disciplinary action up to and including suspension without pay.

As part of the criminal records check, any person employed after January 1, 2005, shall submit two sets of fingerprints to be used by the Missouri Highway Patrol and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The fingerprints shall be collected pursuant to standards determined by the Missouri Highway Patrol.

All vacancies should be posted for a minimum of ten (10) school days before the Superintendent may recommend a qualified applicant to the Board for employment. In an emergency situation the Superintendent may temporarily employ an applicant prior to the expiration of the posting. The temporary applicant may be considered along with other applicants for the position after the ten days. However, in order to hire a Board member's spouse, the position must have been advertised. (Refer to Policy 0342 - Nepotism, Conflict of Interest and Financial Disclosure.)