KBI director urges mandatory background checks for school employees to fill public safety gaps

KBI director urges mandatory background checks for school employees to fill public safety gaps

KBI Director Tony Mattivi appears at a press conference on Oct. 1, 2025, in Topeka, Kansas. He spoke to a legislative committee in January 2026, encouraging lawmakers to advance a bill that requires all school employees to submit to fingerprint-based background checks. (Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)TOPEKA — Tony Mattivi, director of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, described a high school wrestling coach, a paraprofessional, a spee…

Bill targets background checks - The Iola Register

Kansas lawmakers are looking at a bill requiring more stringent background checks for all employees and volunteers at public and private schools. TOPEKA — Tony Mattivi, director of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, described a high school wrestling coach, a paraprofessional, a speech pathologist and a bus driver who all had at least two things in common. None was required to submit to a criminal history and background check before working in p…