[Katie Reynolds]

Yes, I understand that FIRST is doing this just to cover their behinds.

But I don't see how FIRST can possibly enforce something like this. From time to time, we'll have a new mentor join the team a week or two into the build. Do they have to wait until they're cleared before they can participate? What about the parents that bring dinner for us during the build? Most parents, if told they had to clear a background check before they could bring their child dinner, would rather give the kid $5 to get something to eat. How about the president of the company who sponsors a team? Say he or she wants to go check on what they're putting their moeny towards and are told, "Oh, sorry - we need you to submit to a background check before you can get close to one of the students."

Pehaps if FIRST were a one-on-one program, then I would understand why they want to do it but when you have five adults working with 30 kids in a group environment ... it doesn't seem necessary to me.

Think about it. Other mentors, parents and students on a team will know if something is up with one of the mentors. Background checks should be a team issue, not a FIRST issue. If the team feels it is necessary to do it, that's wonderful. But FIRST should not make mentors submit to a check such as this.

Just my $.02

- Katie