NORMAL - Consultants have told Normal-based Unit 5 school district that it needs to change its hiring practices, a matter that has been given new urgency by the recently admitted sexual misconduct of former teacher Jon White.

Superintendent Gary Niehaus will recommend to the school board tonight what to do with recommendations from attorney T.J. Wilson and the consulting firm CTS Inc., which include creating four new administrative jobs and improving hiring practices.

"Deficiencies were identified in the district's hiring and job applicant screening processes," Niehaus said of the consultants' findings. "These deficiencies create potential legal liabilities for the district."

He said he is recommending the changes based on the results of two recent studies, construction and tax increases approved in two Feb. 5 referendums, and a need to bring the number of administrative staff in line with the demands of a growing district.

"In spite of the dedication and hard work of existing administrators, the district is at risk of making errors relative to the hiring and supervision of employees, and needs additional personnel to help resolve issues regarding applications, job descriptions, employee handbooks and other personnel issues," said Wilson, a Monticello attorney who undertook a three-month study of the district last summer.

Niehaus has devised a new organizational chart and recommends shifting duties.

The new jobs Niehaus recommends creating are: assistant superintendent of operations, new construction coordinator, director of human resources/training and a financial analyst. The net increase would be three positions because of an impending retirement. He recommends filling two of those with internal candidates.

The consultants also offered suggestions to improve efficiency, streamline processes and eliminate redundant processes.

"Unit 5 has historically run a lean operation when it comes to administrative staff positions," Niehaus said. Now, however, there is more work to do as the district prepares to build and open three new schools in less than three years as part of its $96.7 million building plan approved by voters Feb. 5, he said.

Wilson said in September that Unit 5 does most things right and he praised the administrators he interviewed, but he said the size of the staff and policies haven't kept up with the district's growth. In fact, administrative staffing was cut a few years ago because of the district's financial crunch.

He suggested then the district add personnel-management staff, revive an administrator mentorship program and update job descriptions, employee handbooks and the wording in some of its policies, he said.

Among his recommendations, Wilson said:

- "More focus should be placed on screening individuals for quality of character."

- "Applications should be more thorough in asking about former employment and reasons for leaving. An application should ask whether the applicant has ever been asked to resign."

- "References should be asked questions specific to inappropriate conduct by the applicant around children or adults."

Wilson reported the district is understaffed in the area of personnel administrators and recommended hiring someone "specifically trained in the field of personnel administration."

- "Candidates' names and information should be cross-checked with the internet to see if any information of concern is revealed."

- "Applications should inquire about criminal convictions for offenses less than felonies."

The board will meet at 7 p.m. today at the board offices at 1809 Hovey St. in Normal.