Policy Information
Series Regulations - Regulations

SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS
Policy # 3150R

A school  volunteer  is defined  as a non-paid  person  who assists  District  staff, including  but not limited  to instructional personnel,  in curricular,  co-curricular, or extracurricular programs. A volunteer is  a  person   who  offers  to  provide   assistance  or  service   of  his/her   own  free  will  without   legal obligations.

 

General Guidelines

 

1)     Use of volunteers shall not conflict  with or replace any duly appointed and/or authorized District personnel or the duties/job responsibilities of such  personnel.  Any  information gained  through volunteering must  be  held  in  strict  confidence with  the  Principal/designee assuring  that  the volunteer has no access to confidential student  or personnel  data unless as designated by a school official  in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

 

2)      Volunteers may  assist  on  an  occasional   or  regularly   scheduled   basis,  yet,  may  not  teach  or provide  the initial  instruction for accomplishing educational objectives; but may reinforce  skills taught by the professional staff.

 

3)      Volunteers may  not  provide  transportation to  students  in  their  personal  automobiles for  any school-sponsored activities.

 

4)      Volunteers may  not  be assigned  the  responsibility for  disciplining students  but  may  assist  the teacher  in maintaining  proper behavior  of students  and report behavioral  problems to the teacher.

 

5)      Volunteers may not supervise  a class in the absence  of the teacher.

 

6)      Volunteers are not to contact  parents  regarding the performance of students  or write comments on any papers/schoolwork sent home.

 

Implementation of the Volunteer Program

 

1)      General  administration of the volunteer  program  in the District  shall be the responsibility of the Superintendent or his/her  designee  with Principals or Administrators assuming general  authority over volunteers.

2)      The need for volunteers  will be determined by the Principal  and other personnel.

3)      An application shall  be filled  out  by each  prospective volunteer  and  forwarded  to the  District Office and/or  School  Resource  Officer  for evaluation. All regularly  scheduled volunteers  will, at a minimum, complete  an application, provide  authorization for a reference  check,  and shall  be screened  and interviewed by the Building  Principal  or his/her designee  as necessary.  Occasional volunteers will be screened  by the Building  Principal  in a manner of his/her choosing.

4)    The School Resource Officer/Building Principal will forward his/her decisions concerning selection, placement and replacement of volunteers to the District Clerk to be included in the next Board agenda for final evaluation. Following approval from the Board of Education, volunteers selected for work in the District shall be placed on the list of approved volunteers. However, the Superintendent retains the right to approve or reject any volunteerapplications submitted for consideration.

5)    Principals and other administrators shall assume final responsibility for the assignment of volunteers from the approved list. Assignment of a volunteer must be acceptable to the supervisory staff member.

6)     Volunteers will work under the supervision of appropriate staff and are expected to comply with all District rules and regulations.

7)     Anaccurate list of volunteers shall be kept by the District Office and made available to all administrators.

8)       The District does not carry health/accident insurance or Workers' Compensation on volunteers.

They are covered for their actions or omissions within the scope of their approved authority

under the liability section of the District's umbrella policy. However, this is not the case for

visitors to the school who do not act in a volunteer capacity.

9)       Volunteers must sign in and out during regular school hours at the appropriate school office.

10)   The District Office will keep a volunteer registry which will include, but not be limited to, the following information: name, address, telephone number, emergency contact.

11)   Volunteers must wear appropriate identification to ensure immediate recognition as persons whose specific purpose is helping students and staff. Appropriate identification will be determined by the Superintendent or Building Principal/Supervisor, or designee.

12)  Annual renewal of volunteer approval is necessary. The volunteer renewal form must be completed annually.

 


Adoption Date: 9/1/2012
Regulations - Regulations