When it comes to matters involving anything that could be considered “personnel” related, government agencies tend to err on the side of providing less information, not more, to the media.  State law allows a “personnel” exemption from public records requests under the idea that the public shouldn’t be privy to all the details of a government employee’s personnel file.

And in most cases, that’s a good idea.

But the law often fails us when it comes to “personnel” exemptions of employees who are accused of harming children. Public school teachers are sometimes not fired, but instead don’t have their contracts renewed, because of accusations of questionable acts with students.

And those teachers are then hired at neighboring school districts, and because their employee personnel record isn’t public information, parents never know. Even if a parent heard a rumor about a teacher and why he/she left their previous job, there would be no way to verify that information. The school district could simply cite the “personnel” exemption and refuse to answer questions.

A recent example in Lincoln County underscores the problem with this “personnel” exemption.  A school bus driver for the Lincoln County School District was arrested Friday on a charge of touching a child for lustful purposes.

Lincoln County Sheriff Steve Rushing said the victim’s parents reported an alleged incident between bus driver Charles R. Davis and the child on Sept. 18. Davis, 68, of 660 Alderman Lane SW, was released on a $25,000 bond. Davis drove a route for West Lincoln Attendance Center.

District Attorney Dee Bates said the child is a minor under 16.

For most of the interested public, that’s enough information. The man’s name, age and nature of the alleged crime is spelled out. It goes without saying, but he’s only been charged at this point, he’s not been found guilty of a crime.

But what about parents at West Lincoln Attendance Center? They undoubtedly need to know more information. What bus did he drive? Was my child on his bus? How long has he been a bus driver?  Sure, in a small community most people will already know that information. But everyone will not.

Those are the details that parents need to know so they can talk to their children about any possible interactions they had with Davis.  But those details likely won’t be made public because of the “personnel” exemption. And that’s a shame.