Since 2006, all volunteers working directly with students have been required to go through a background check.
Katten expressed her concerns about implementing the new procedure at the October Board of Education meeting unaware that the measure was internally approved by CPS months prior.
According a CPS spokesman, since the move is a change in protocol — and not the underlying policy — it does not need board approval after it was implemented in early August. CPS will pay all costs associated with the fingerprinting, according to the spokesman.
The contract signed in 2011 did not provide the cost for fingerprinting, but a 2008 CPS contract with the Chicago-based company put the cost at $55 per individual.
Individuals volunteering for a short period of time for events like career day or science fairs are not required to go through the fingerprinting and background check, the spokesman said.