Pre Employment Background Screening Blog

School Probe Reveals Lapses

In the State of Maine, a recent investigation revealed that South Portland's former special education director made it possible for a woman who had been convicted of assaulting a child to work in city schools without going through the state mandated pre employment background check, according to an investigation by the Maine Department of Education. Deborah Wolfenden's consultation contract was terminated after school officials learned that she was convicted of assualt in connection with the death of her four year old foster son in 1990. Kathleen Fries omitted information about the district's contract with Deborah Wolfenden from state forms and assured South Portland school officials that state law was being followed in the hiring of Wolfenden as a consultant. Maine law requires fingerprinting and a state and federal background check before the state education department can approve a teacher, support worker or contractor to work in a school. The investigation showed that former South Portland Superintendent Reginald MacDonald and current Superintendent Wendy Houlihan acted properly and were never fully informed about Wolfenden's status. Fries resigned after Wolfenden's contract was terminated. People who know the two women have described them as friends. The superintendent has created new procedures in recent weeks for handling background screening for contractors. Kathleen Fries said she followed proper procedures when hiring Deborah Wolfenden as a consultant for South Portland schools. She said Wednesday that she is a "scapegoat" and plans to fight any effort to revoke her state certification.