GLOCESTER – Two northern Rhode Island legislators are leading an effort to pass legislation that would require schools to obtain background checks along all records of prior allegations of child abuse or sexual misconduct from potential employees.
Rep. Michael Chippendale and Sen. Jessica de la Cruz submitted bills in their respective chambers after working with Glocester parent and education advocate Laurie Gaddis Barrett.
Known colloquially as “don’t pass the trash,” the law mimics legislation passed in other states that aims to prevent school districts from transferring teachers with a bad track record between schools.
“Rhode Island law currently allows red-flagged school employees to quietly resign and reappear in another district without full disclosure of past investigations, discipline, or serious allegations,” said Barrett. “That’s not accountability. That’s a dangerous loophole.”
Barrett said she contacted the legislators following news of the resignation and state police investigation of former Ponaganset High School gym teacher Alisha Crins in October. No charges had been filed in that case as of this week, with investigation of reported allegations of a relationship between Crins and a former student still ongoing.
The new proposed law with versions before the House and Senate states that a school shall not employ anyone who has regular contact with students without a background check and confirmation with prior employers of records of investigations of child abuse or sexual misconduct. It includes the requirement that the district release specific information regarding any suspensions or discipline related to such matters – an effort to prevent a school district from allowing teachers to quietly resign while hiding misconduct in closed personnel files.
It also lists penalties for applicants who lie about their history, with fines of up to $500 for those who provide false information or fail to disclose previous employment details.
Similar laws have reportedly been enacted in at least 18 states as well as Washington, D.C. Barrett submitted a package to the local state representatives that included a model legislation passed in Delaware, used as a foundation for Rhode Island’s bill.
“Rhode Island has a statewide problem that needs fixing,” Barrett said. “If parents need a BCI just to chaperone a school dance or field trip, surely we need stronger, more comprehensive background checks on the employees entrusted with our kids every day.”
Barrett, a Glocester mom, started a petition asking for an internal investigation of Crins allegations last year, and said that other parents in the Foster-Glocester school district have reached out and share the concerns that would be addressed in the legislation.
“I regularly engage with highly involved parents and advocates across the country,” she said. “After the Ponaganset incident, parents from elsewhere in Rhode Island also reached out, sharing similar experiences and concerns in their own districts. Those conversations reinforced that this was not an isolated local issue, but a structural gap affecting communities statewide.”
She said that both de la Cruz, the Senate minority leader who represents District 23 in Glocester, North Smithfield and Burrillville; and House Minority Leader Chippendale, who represents District 40 in Coventry, Foster and Glocester, were “incredibly generous with their time,” and walked her through the process of getting the bills submitted. The Senate version is also sponsored by Sens. Gordon Rogers, Andrew Dimitri, Todd Patalano, Leonidas Raptakis and Peter Appollonio.
In the House, it has support from Reps. David Place and Paul Santucci was scheduled for a House Judiciary hearing on Thursday, Feb. 5.
“I’ll be there testifying on behalf of everyone,” Barrett said.
She also started a new petition in support of the bill that she said had 250 signatures as of this week, including school committee members from neighboring districts, teachers, and town council members from both Foster and Glocester,
“Our current Regional School Committee members and Superintendent Palazzo have been invited to add their support,” Barrett said, noting that so far, only member Shelley Pezza has signed.
“Parents across the state are saying the same thing: If there’s a serious red flag involving child safety, the next school deserves to know,” she said. “These bills prevent districts from unknowingly hiring someone another district quietly let go.”
