Policy Change May Allow Convicted Felons To Volunteer At OKC Schools

When Oklahoma City kids go back to the school in August, some convicted felons may be watching over them.

That's due to potential changes in the way volunteers are screened. Right now, you must pass a background check to volunteer and watch over children.

But the Oklahoma City school district says right now, it's having to turn away volunteers because of mistakes they've made years ago.

In many cases, it's a parent who wants to volunteer for with their child's field trip.

The district says it's now hoping to change current policy and allow volunteers who have committed certain felonies in their past to help out with students.

But the district says their interests are first and foremost with the safety of their students.

"I think we are looking at being reasonable to someone who has made a mistake long ago in the past," Deputy Superintendent Sandra Park said.

The district says it maybe a case where a person has written a bad checks, or shoplifted. Those of the type of felonies they may let slide.

The district says so far this year, it has turned away about 150 would-be volunteers because they failed their background check. More than 2800 have taken background checks to become volunteers according to the school district.

The school board is expected to vote on this issue in mid July.