Interview lacked disclosure: Criminal record missing from hiring process for counselor

By Bob Dunn
Staff Writer

Published on August 24, 2007

Only one member of the interview committee that recommended hiring Talib Sadiq as an Amherst Regional Middle School counselor was aware of his criminal background, according to the school committee chairman and school superintendent.

In email correspondence between Amherst School Committee Chairman Andy Churchill and Amherst parent Alberto Morales about the hiring of Sadiq, Churchill wrote, "... the hiring committee chose him as the best-qualified (candidate), even though all but one of them didn't know about his background."

The background alluded to in Churchill's email is this: In 1993, Sadiq, who was then known as Vincent Bias, robbed a bank in Springfield with a handgun shortly after returning from service in the first Gulf War.

He was arrested, tried and convicted for that crime and served more than 31/2 years of a five-to seven-year sentence.

Last Friday, School Superintendent Gere Hochman emailed the Gazette in response to questions. He indicated that information about Sadiq's criminal record was not shared with the interview committee so they could decide on Sadiq's candidacy based strictly on his skills and qualifications.

"Interview committees interview candidates to determine their skill and knowledge to teach a particular subject or fill a particular position. The school administration reviews all information from the interview process and makes a recommendation on hiring including background information, reference checks, and other personnel information," Hochman wrote.

"In this instance, we did have background information about the candidate and it was up to the administration to determine how that would affect hiring. We wanted the interview committee to make their determination based on the skills and training of the candidates. I am responsible for determining if other factors screen a candidate in or out," wrote Hochman.

Hochman added that as a matter of routine, Criminal Offender Record information (CORI) checks are not conducted until after a candidate has been offered a position.

According to the state Department of Education Web site, the department requires CORI checks on all public school hires as a last step in the hiring process. But the department does not provide legal advice on how that information should affect hiring, which it says should be decided by the school or district in consultation with its legal counsel.

The state Executive Office of Public Safety and Security recommends that all organizations "develop a policy identifying disqualifying offenses."

Education after jail

Sadiq, of Amherst and an Amherst Regional High School graduate, earned his B.A. in communications from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 2002 and received his M.A. in education, concentrating on school counseling, from UMass in 2006. He is the married father of three and coaches youth football in Amherst.

He also had completed a one-year internship at ARMS, under the tutelage of former guidance counselor Barry Brooks.

Sadiq is now working on a certificate of advanced graduate studies through the UMass Division of Continuing Education.

Committee members

In an earlier interview, Sadiq identified some members of the committee: Amherst Regional Middle School Principal Fran Ziperstein, Co-principal Michael Hayes and school psychologist Denise Green.

Sadiq said that one ARMS faculty member and a parent were also on the committee, but he didn't know their names.

Ziperstein directed questions about the interview process to Hochman and attempts to reach Green and Hayes were unsuccessful.

Morales, who describes himself as self-employed and has two children attending elementary school, said he was "speechless" when he learned of Sadiq's hiring despite having been convicted of armed robbery.

"It took my breath away," Morales said.

"When were (parents) really going to be told?" Morales asked.

"A letter should have been sent; this is not a basic hire."

Morales' said he became concerned that parents were not going to be told about Sadiq's record in any formal way, a notion that was reinforced after learning that some members of the interview committee were not aware of it.

Non-specifics

An ARMS newsletter, which was sent out to parents last week, contained information about Sadiq, including that he was arrested and served jail time, without mentioning the specifics of the case. There are also events planned before the start of classes for parents and new students to meet the faculty, including Sadiq.

Morales said he supports Sadiq's right to a second chance, but feels that allowing him the privilege of working in the public school system falls outside the realm of what constitutes a fair chance.

"Everybody deserves a second chance, but where do we draw the line with children?" Morales asked. "The Amherst school system is not a rehabilitation system."

Morales said that the hiring of Sadiq affects not only the parents of current middle school students but parents of students who will be attending ARMS in the future.

Morales also raised concerns that the hiring of Sadiq sets a precedent for future hires at the school.

"I've worked with a lot of men who have made bad decisions," Morales said. "All deserve a second chance; none I'd leave my kid with."