KENTWOOD, Mich. (WOOD) — Upset parents demanded answers from the Kentwood Public Schools Board of Education Monday night, wondering how a man with a criminal record was hired to work for the district.
That man, Quinn James, was charged last year with raping a student who was later killed.
There were not many parents at Monday’s board meeting, but the few who spoke up were angry the district had hired James as a groundskeeper and maintenance worker in 2011. At the time, he had a record that included a 1991 conviction for armed robbery and two counts of being a prisoner in possession of a weapon from 2003.
“To have a person with that background around kids, you’re making your kids vulnerable,” parent Keith Edwards told 24 Hour News 8. “And I’m all for second chances, to be honest. I mean, I’ve worked in corrections for a long time and I understand people need to have second chances, but you still got to be vigilant and protect the kids.”
The superintendent previously told 24 Hour News 8 that James was hired because he “fit the qualifications for working as a groundskeeper” and that the job didn’t require him to have any contact with students.
Parents called for a list of all the employees in the district who have criminal records.
“Are there currently employees within the Kentwood district that have criminal records that have contact with students?” parent Mary Bruce asked the board. “…Required to have contact with students and having contact are two very different things.”
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