Background Checks............

[PeteBooth]

Sorry -I know a few days have passed, but I wanted to address this again.

So I guess we'll agree to disagree on this in general.

No problem Hokie that's what is great about discussions. if we all AGREED it would be boring. The more important issue is that most raised EXCELENT points without calling someone a name.

I would like to address your following point:

4. Again, as someone that does this already (and for a far better paying job than HS umpire), if it's done once, and never followed up, it's a joke. So it's a solution to the "Cover Our A$$" problem versus any legitimate problem. And I really can't see the other side to this argument.

I agree with the aformentioned however, that is LIFE. No matter what you do for a living it seems we are almost always "covering our A$$$$". I hardly ever kept old E-mails. Now I keep just about everything so that if I am in a meeting and someone says something aimed at me I have 'proof" to the contrary.

Is this the way to live and work with one another? - NO but as they say It is what it is.

Yes this is more of a philosophy issue, and from your posts you feel strongly aginst it but in the scheme of things if you umpire a decent schedule the $100.00 is NO BIG deal and will be recouped in a few games.

IMO, here is another example:

Personally, I like the charcoal gray pants, HOWEVER our HS association has NOT mandated them as of yet.

My point: I believe all of us have some disagreements within our respective umpire associations, HOWEVER, if we want work we abide by those mandates. The $100.00 background check is no different. You can feel strongly against it but the bottom line is Pay it or go elsewhere.

Pete Booth

[JD295315]

Hokieump,

The cost of the PIAA background checks is only $58.50 not $100.00. The PA Department of Public Welfare and PA State Police checks cost $10.00 each. The FBI background check cost $38.50. I have no idea why the checks cost Therefump $100.00 but the costs are spelled out in the informational letter that was sent to officials who had to submit background checks.

There is no assumption of guilt associated with the background checks. They are being required because it was ruled that officials are covered by the PA legislation requiring independent contractors who perform work requiring direct contact with children have the three background checks performed prior to their start work. Teachers and other school employees are also required to have completed the background checks as part of the employment terms so there is no discriminatory practices.

Unless things change, officials only have to submit the background checks the first time they work for a school. The background checks have to be dated within a year of date that an official submits it to a school. Thankfully, in my area, the schools held a clearing house where officials could submit their background checks to most of the schools in the area so I only have a couple of independent schools to submit to.

Personally, I don't have a problem with submitting a background check. If just one child is protected as a result then it's worth it.

John