The Rochester City School District says the state Education Department is the reason why they hired a substitute teacher with a criminal record. 

“We received an actual certificate back from the state certifying that this individual was clear for employment,” said RCSD General Counsel Karl Kristoff.

Michael Costa was arrested on accusations of having an inappropriate relationship with a teenager in Parma.

He’s been placed on leave until the investigation is concluded.

The 43-year-old has been charged with misdemeanor endangering the welfare of a child and unlawful imprisonment for allegedly having physical contact with a 14-year-old girl. Investigators say the incident happened on August 20.

Costa worked at Edison Tech High School 10 years ago as a gym teacher and served as coach for two girls’ sports teams. He later moved to South Carolina and returned to teach at the district earlier this year.

“His evaluations were between distinguished and efficient, and that was not a flag for us to say, ‘He is not a good employee.’ He left for a while and came back. We did the two process checks and we moved forward,” said Harry Kennedy, chief of human capital initiatives.

Costa had previous run-ins with the law for assault and DWI charges. 

A police report out of Bluffton, South Carolina details an assault to which Costa pleaded guilty in 2014.  

Police there say Costa was accused of choking his wife and assaulting his son for trying to stop him. 

The incident report goes on to say that his wife believed that Costa would harm police if they got involved.

Costa was charged with criminal assault and felony unlawful neglect of a child.

He pleaded guilty to a battery assault charge and was sentenced to 42 days in a detention center. 

According to the district’s legal team, the state Education Department approved Costa to work as a teacher following a fingerprint and background check.

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office says the alleged incident did not happen on RCSD grounds or with any district students. 

“The state is not permitted, even when they get a positive hit, to send the background information to us. They simply tell us that the person is cleared or not cleared or pending further inquiry,” said Kristoff. 

The state Education Department says it followed protocol.

Costa is due in Parma Town Court on October 16.