Simi Valley Unified School District has included in its board policy new language requiring criminal background checks for anyone who works on campuses during school hours.

In bid documents, the school district has always required contractors to either fingerprint their construction workers or provide a full-time, on-site supervisor to watch the crew on a project during school hours.

Criminal background checks are not required on crews working during the summer when students are not in class.

"This regulation just kind of formalizes it," said Lowell Schultze, associate superintendent of business and facilities.

"We've always have this language in our bid documents," he said.

Susan Culberson, director of purchasing, said most contractors hire supervisors to watch a crew working on large projects and require fingerprints of workers for smaller jobs.

All Simi Valley Unified employees must get fingerprinted and submit to background checks before they start working, Culberson said.

- Eliav Appelbaum