ODE
outlines new Senate Bill 2 requirements for coaches, directors, supervisors
Under the provisions of Senate Bill 2,
effective June 9, 2004, the State Board will now issue a permit, instead of a validation,
to direct, supervise or coach a pupil activity program. All non-licensed individuals and
licensed individuals that direct, supervise or coach a physical activity program that
involves athletics, routine/regular physical activity or health and safety considerations
must hold this permit. The permit is valid for three years and is renewable.
By changing the character of the validation to
a permit, the legislature afforded the State Board the authority to address two important
concerns. First, the bill allows a school district to employ a nonlicensed individual only
if they have been granted a permit issued by the State Board. Second, the bill
provides that the State Board or the Superintendent of Public Instruction, on behalf of
the Board, may investigate the background of any applicant (licensed or nonlicensed) for
the pupil activity program permit, in the same manner as an investigation of applicants
for educator licenses and permits. This change means that for every new Pupil
Activity Supervisor Permit applicant, a BCI/FBI background check must be submitted along
with the application, fee and evidence of completion of successful completion of an
approved first-aid program.
Accordingly, the State Board may refuse to
issue a permit to an applicant, may limit a permit it issues to an applicant or may
suspend, revoke or limit a permit it has issued to any person, if the State Board
determines that the applicant has done any of the following:
(1) Engaged in an immoral act, incompetence,
negligence or conduct that is unbecoming to the applicant's or person's position; or (2)
Pled guilty to, has been found guilty by a jury or court or been convicted of any of the
following: (a) A felony; (b) Unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, sexual imposition or
sexual importuning; (c) An offense of violence; (d) Any of several proscribed theft
offenses; (e) A drug abuse offense that is not a minor misdemeanor; and (f) A violation of
a municipal ordinance that is substantively comparable to an offense listed in (a) through
(e) above.
Senate Bill 2 amended all of the relevant
statutes to reflect the existence of the new permit. The State Board will promulgate
a rule that will maintain the original substantive requirements necessary to obtain the
validation and make Chapter 3301-73, Professional Conduct, applicable to the new permit.
The application for this permit has been
updated and is available on the Ohio Department of Education Web site by clicking
here.
From this point forward,
please have your applicants complete this new form. If you have any
additional questions please contact the Pupil Activity Consultant,
Leigh Brenneman at
Leigh.Brenneman@education.ohio.gov
or
614-644-7701.
