"I would like to inform you, Ima Teacher, that I will be recommending you for the position pending the results of a background check and pending verification that you have been released from your contract with (sending district)."
Caution
It is important to not tell the candidate that you are hiring him/her or that he/she has the job. In Iowa, only the School Board can hire certified staff (unless they delegate this power to the superintendent between school board meetings per new Iowa code provisions.)
Courtesy Phone Call
Make a courtesy phone call to the successful applicant's sending district. Tell them that you are planning to offer the position so that they can begin to make plans to meet their needs.
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Conduct a criminal background check, a Department of Human Services Iowa Child Abuse Registry check, and an Iowa Department of Public Safety Sex Offender Registry check on each candidate. To learn how to do these, see "Info on Background Checks." If anything shows up on any of these checks, use your judgment (with your attorney's advice) as to whether or not the information disqualifies the candidate.
Candidate is Currently Under Contract with Another District in Iowa
If the candidate is currently under contract with another district in Iowa, it is a professional practices violation to knowingly execute a written professional employment contract with a practitioner if he/she has not been unconditionally released. In order to verify that the successful candidate has been released from his/her previous contract many districts mail a release form to the sending district. Complete this step by using "Contract Release Form" to the left.
Verify Past Employers
Conduct a verification of employment check with past employers. For a sample document, see "Verification of Employment Form" to the left.
