National News
State records: Birmingham City Schools knew about employee's criminal history when hired
December 20, 2016 posted by Steve Brownstein
A Birmingham City Schools employee recently busted for multiple crimes has a lengthy criminal history – and now, state records reveal that the district was aware of his convictions when he was hired.
Charles Walker is facing new drug trafficking and dogfighting charges, but his criminal background goes back two decades.
He pleaded guilty to dogfighting in 1995, drug possession in 2000 and drug distribution in 2012.
Walker works for Birmingham City Schools.
So did he not undergo a criminal background check?
“Any potential employee who even has the potential to be around students unsupervised must have a background check,” said Michael Sibley, with the State Board of Education.
State records show the school district did check Walker out.
“Birmingham Public Schools apparently sent a request for a background check to the State Department of Education. That background check was performed and the results of that were sent back to Birmingham Public Schools,” Sibley said.
The report outlined Walker's earlier convictions. The school board hired him anyway in 2004.
It appears he kept his job even after pleading guilty to dealing cocaine eight years later.
“Hiring and firing is not a function of the State Department of Education. That is a function that is left up to the local education agency,” Sibley said.
In this case, Birmingham City Schools continued to keep a convicted cocaine dealer on its payroll.
WVTM 13 requested more information from the Birmingham City School Board about Walker's employment. So far it has not provided an explanation.
