All employees of Knox County Schools have an ongoing obligation to comply with criminal background requirements necessary to obtain employment. The following rules shall apply to all Knox County Schools employees. 

ARRESTS  

An employee arrested for any criminal charge shall notify the Knox County Schools Executive Director of Human Resources no later than five (5) days after such arrest. Failure of the employee to report the arrest within the time prescribed will lead to disciplinary action up to and including discharge. Although in most instances, an arrest in and of itself may not result in disciplinary action, Knox County Schools may conduct an investigation that could lead to disciplinary action up to and including discharge.

CONVICTIONS  

An employee convicted of any criminal charge shall notify the Knox County Schools Executive Director of Human Resources no later than five (5) days after such conviction. Within thirty (30) days after receiving notice of a conviction, Knox County Schools will take any appropriate disciplinary action.   

Failure of the employee to report the conviction within the time prescribed will lead to disciplinary action up to and including discharge. Convictions can result in disciplinary action up to and including discharge. In determining whether and to what extent an employee will be disciplined or discharged for a conviction, Knox County Schools (KCS) will consider the following factors: the degree to which the nature of the criminal offense reduces KCS's ability to maintain a safe working environment; the degree to which the nature of the criminal offense unreasonably endangers the safety of other employees and/or students; the degree to which the conviction unreasonably undermines the public confidence in KCS's operations; the nature of the criminal offense; the nature of the employee's job with KCS; the existence of any explanatory or mitigating facts or circumstances; whether the employee promptly reports the conviction; and any other facts relevant to the employee, including but not limited to years of service and record of performance with KCS.