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Policies

Purpose

 

The Board recognizes that volunteers can make a valuable contribution to the school district. The Board appreciates the use of volunteers, subject to the guidelines set forth in this policy. This policy is established to formalize Board practices and to provide measures for a safe environment for all employees, volunteers and students.

 

Definitions

 

Volunteer -  For purposes of this policy, a volunteer is an individual holding an unpaid position with the district or program, activity or service sponsored by the district in which they are  responsible for the child’s welfare or having direct volunteer contact with children and/or voluntarily provides a service to the district’s administration or staff during a time that students are present in the building. [2][6]

 

Direct Volunteer Contact – the care, supervision, guidance or control of children and routine interaction with children.

 

To provide for the safety of District students, the following criteria and regulations apply not only to those individuals who meet the above definition of “Volunteer” but also to anyone who volunteers their time with the District or in any of its affiliated programs:

  1. The building principal, or his/her designee, authorizes the selection and use of parent/guardians, community members, and others, as volunteers to assist regular school district staff, subject to this policy, and applicable laws and regulations.
     
  2. Volunteers shall not be appointed to a school program or activity in lieu of a previously approved regular, paid position.
     
  3. Upon approval of a volunteer to a school program or activity, the principal, or his/her designee, will provide a policy letter to each volunteer and obtain an affirmation form which must be completed and signed by the volunteer.
     
  4. Prior to any volunteer being permitted to serve in a school program or activity, each such volunteer will be required to submit, at his/her own expense,  an official child abuse clearance statement and other background checks as may be required by law and/or district policy for review and approval by the designated district official. Volunteers shall obtain and submit new background checks and clearances at least every (60) months.  Where it deems necessary and prudent, and in its sole discretion, the district may require that volunteers provide more comprehensive and/or more frequent background checks and/or clearances than required under the law. [1][2][3]
  5. Prior to the volunteer being permitted to work in a school program or activity, volunteers are required to submit to a tuberculosis examination if the volunteer work may involve ten or more hours per week in direct contact with children. The cost of the examination will be at the volunteer’s expense.[4][5]
     
  6. Volunteers shall not administer or enforce discipline upon students.[7]
     
  7. All volunteers who have reasonable cause to suspect that a child is the victim of child abuse shall make a report of suspected child abuse in accordance with applicable law, Board policy and administrative regulations.[2][8]
  8. Except in cases of emergency, volunteers shall not administer first aid or medicine to students.
     
  9. Volunteers shall not operate any motor vehicles owned by the school district, nor shall they transport students as part of any school district program or activity without authorization from the building principal and written consent from the student’s parent(s).
     
  10. All volunteers shall maintain confidentiality in working with students, staff and all privileged information. Volunteers shall not be permitted to access, disclose, or use confidential student records, communications or information.
     
  11. Under no circumstances shall a volunteer be considered an employee of the district. A volunteer shall receive no wages or other valuable consideration for the performance of volunteer services.
  12. The volunteer position is not a right, but a privilege. Any volunteer may be removed and any volunteer position may be eliminated at any time for any reason or no reason.

Expectations of Volunteers

  1. Volunteers will comply with the buildings rules, polices, and procedures.
     
  2. Volunteers will conduct themselves in a professional manner.
     
  3. Volunteers will perform the duties, and only the duties, requested by the administration and/or staff.

All inquiries concerning volunteer certifications, clearances, and other requirements shall be directed to the District’s Personnel Coordinator.

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