TRINITY BACKGROUND CHECK POLICY

SAFETY AND SECURITY

It is important to follow all safety and security measures prescribed by the school.

·  Employees should be aware of all emergency policies and procedures, emergency exits, the location of any emergency equipment, and the person in charge in case of a fire or other disaster.

·  A badge identification system is in effect during school operating hours. All employees are required to clearly display their Trinity School identification badge and to be alert for any non-student in the school facilities during school hours without a Trinity visitors’ badge. Such persons are to be directed to the office immediately for visitor identification and sign-in.

The following Safety Mandate has been adopted by Trinity’s Safety Committee:

Student and employee safety is a fundamental prerequisite for the operation of Trinity School according to its mission. It is the policy of this school to provide and maintain safe and healthful educational opportunities and working conditions and to establish and assist safe work methods and safe work and academic practices at all times.

The Safety Committee is an administrative committee which is charged with assessing safety issues, improving school safety, proposing safety policies and procedures, and implementing safety training and safety measures. This work includes but is not limited to the following:

• • Developing safety standards for facilities, classrooms, equipment, daily routines, and work practices that are based on applicable regulatory standards, which include safe work practices and safe classroom standards.

  • Providing education, training, on-the-job safety instruction, and general safety policies and procedures.

  • Investigating and documenting accidents to determine the causes and actions required to prevent occurrences.

  • Operating motor vehicles according to safe operating procedures.

  • Identifying potential health and safety hazards and developing necessary protective measures, especially potential hazards that are prevalent in the current academic environment.

  • Developing an ever-vigilant culture on campus to reduce health and safety hazards.

  • Publicly promoting safety to maintain interest, effectiveness, and participation.

VISITOR CHECK-IN AND BADGES

All visitors to Trinity must check in at the main desk and wear a guest badge while they are on campus. Employees who see an unknown visitor without a guest badge are encouraged to simply say “Hello” to them, which can prompt a casual conversation to determine why they are at the school. The OHNO approach—Observe, Initiate a Hello, Navigate the Risk, and Obtain Help—helps employees observe and evaluate any suspicious behaviors, and empowers them to mitigate potential risk and obtain help when necessary.

SAFETY OR SECURITY REPORTING FORMS

Trinity has created a Safety or Security Reporting Form and an Anonymous Reporting System for employees and students. The Safety or Security Reporting Form may be used for anything from safety hazards observed on campus to suspicious behavior. The Anonymous Reporting System is third-party filtered by CLPS, Trinity’s consultants, using IP settings to wash submission addresses so that reports are truly anonymous. These forms are accessible via Trinity Bookmarks and Student Bookmarks.

VEHICLE INFORMATION FORM

Employees are requested to provide information about the vehicles they most frequently drive on campus by completing the vehicle information form. This will help the school to locate drivers in the event of an emergency and to determine whether vehicles on campus are connected to the school. Updates to vehicle information may also be submitted on that form.

WORK-RELATED INJURY OR ILLNESS

Employees must notify their supervisor, the school nurse, and the Human Resources representative immediately if they are injured on the job, and they or their supervisor must complete an incident report form within 24 hours of the incident. 

Workers’ Compensation insurance protects employees in the event of injury or illness considered job-related under the Workers’ Compensation Act of North Carolina. The Human Resources representative files insurance claims related to Workers' Compensation–covered injuries. When a claim is approved, this insurance generally covers most medical bills and provides a statutory benefit payment determined by the state, as well as a death benefit. Any benefit received from Workers’ Compensation insurance is used as an offset to any benefit payable from the school.

All Workers’ Compensation leaves of absence that also qualify under the FMLA will count against the employee’s 12-week FMLA leave entitlement. Additional leave may be permitted for employees injured at work.

TRANSPORTATION OF STUDENTS AND VEHICLE USE

Use of personal vehicles for transportation of students or other persons is not covered under the school’s automobile liability insurance plan, except to the extent that the school’s insurance plan may respond when the limits of liability may be exceeded on the personal insurance plan of the owner of the vehicle in use. In short, the vehicle owner’s policy is primary, the school’s policy is secondary.

All employees or parents transporting students must complete a motor vehicle background check prior to driving Trinity students to Trinity events. Employees should contact the Human Resources representative to arrange for a background check.

INSPECTION OF SCHOOL FACILITIES

In order to safeguard the workplace and its employees, and to assure efficiency and maximize productivity, the school reserves the right, in its sole discretion and without notice to employees, to inspect, monitor or otherwise enter any office, desk, file, locker, computer, closet, or any other enclosed or open area in school facilities or on the school grounds.

Standards for use of computer-printed material and other electronic devices are the same for faculty, staff, and students and include the avoidance of anything obscene, pornographic, violent, or out of compliance with the exhortations of Holy Scripture as to what should be seen or heard.

PERSONAL PROPERTY

Trinity School accepts no responsibility for personal property that may be brought to or stored on school grounds or in school facilities.

WORK AREA

A neat and orderly work area makes for a more pleasant, productive, and safe place to work. Employees are expected to keep work surroundings clean and presentable in courtesy to fellow employees and school partners.

WEAPONS

Trinity School is a weapon-free campus. Firearms are not permitted on the school grounds.

TOBACCO USE

Trinity School is tobacco-free. The use of all tobacco products is prohibited in all school facilities and on the school grounds.

DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE (DRUG AND ALCOHOL POLICY)

Trinity School is committed to providing a work environment for employees where safety, clear thinking, and productivity must be prominent. Substance abuse, whether manifested as the abuse or misuse of prescription or illegal drugs or alcohol, is not consistent with the maintenance of a safe and productive educational environment and is contrary to the role model for the students, and thus it will not be tolerated.

The school may exercise its right to screen an applicant or employee for drugs and alcohol upon employment or placement, after a job-related accident or injury, and/or for reasonable suspicion. For-cause testing may be required of current employees in the event of unusual behavior, injury, or accident; damage to school property; gross negligence or carelessness; disregard for the safety, life, or well-being of any employee or work associate; a school partner’s request; an employee’s reporting to or remaining at work in an apparently unfit condition; or any other reason the school deems sufficient. An injury or accident may require substance abuse testing if it requires medical treatment outside the facility beyond basic first aid.

An applicant who refuses to submit to a drug/alcohol screening, or who tests positive for drugs or alcohol, will be disqualified from employment consideration for a period of one calendar year. An employee who refuses to submit to a drug/alcohol screening or who tests positive to a drug/alcohol screening (as determined by a qualified medical testing vendor or facility) will be terminated.

The school recognizes that substance abuse may involve physical and/or emotional conditions which are treatable as such. The school would prefer to assist an employee in a nondisciplinary context, and an employee is free to seek help on a confidential basis by contacting the Human Resources representative or the Head of School. Such a request should be made before any established policies and procedures have been violated. Substance abuse or dependency will not be recognized as an excuse for unsatisfactory performance or inappropriate or illegal behavior.

Employees found to possess, use, manufacture, sell, purchase, or distribute any illegal drug or any prescription drug (other than in accordance with a proper prescription), or found to be under the influence of any such substance while on school property, during their work hours, or while they are on school business, will be subject to employment separation.