Procedure IICC-AP(1): School Volunteers

Definitions

Volunteer – Any person who provides uncompensated service to the district. As used in this procedure, a “volunteer” does not include students participating in a district-sponsored program, such as tutoring or acting as an office or teaching assistant.

Chaperone – A volunteer, usually a parent or guardian, who assists the district staff and is under the direct control of district staff but is never left alone with a student. Chaperones include room parents or persons who volunteer to assist with field days, field trips, class parties or other special occasions.

Screened Volunteer – A volunteer who may be periodically left alone with students or who may be granted access to some student education records. Usually, screened volunteers commit to assist the school on a regular basis. Examples of a screened volunteer include persons who regularly assist in the office or library, mentor or tutor students, coach or supervise a school-sponsored activity before or after school, or chaperone students on an overnight trip.

All Volunteers

Volunteering in the district is a privilege, not a right. The Board, superintendent, principal or designee may decline or terminate the services of a volunteer for any legal reason. Building principals or designees are responsible for approval of the screened volunteers to be placed in their buildings. Teachers may select and organize chaperones unless directed otherwise by the principal.

All volunteers must receive training appropriate to the function they will serve while volunteering. If a volunteer is disruptive or acts inappropriately around the students, the teacher or principal will refuse the volunteer's services and notify the superintendent or designee immediately.

Volunteers will provide support services but are not substitutes for district staff. Volunteers will work under the direction and supervision of district and building staff. Even screened volunteers who are left alone with a student will have an employee contact person or supervisor to monitor activities with students.

All volunteers will be given a copy of the following rules:

1. Volunteers must follow the same dress code applicable to students.

2. Volunteers will not lend money or bring gifts other than stickers and greeting cards to individual students unless authorized by the building principal or designee.

3. Volunteers will not transport students.

4. Volunteers will not photograph or videotape students unless authorized by the building principal or designee.

5. Volunteers will not date students, have sexual relationships with students or arrange to meet students outside the regular school day or during school-sponsored events or activities. The district expects all adult volunteers to maintain the same professional boundaries with students that are expected of staff members, as detailed in policy GBH.

6. Volunteers will not dress students, change diapers, provide personal hygiene assistance or supply medication to students.

7. Volunteers will use universal precautions to avoid contact with body fluids.

8. Volunteers will receive district policies and procedures on computer use and will sign an authorized user form prior to having access to the district's computers.

9. olunteers will not discriminate against or harass any person and will report all harassment or discrimination observed.

10. Volunteers will not search students or student property.

11. Volunteers will not direct a student to remove an emblem, insignia or garment, including a religious emblem, insignia or garment. If the volunteer believes a student's clothing is disruptive or promotes disruptive behavior, the volunteer will contact a staff member immediately.

12. Volunteers must sign in and out of the office when entering or leaving the school and must document the hours volunteered in the school.

13. Volunteers must report suspected cases of abuse or neglect to the building principal.

14. Volunteers will follow all the policies, procedures and other rules established in the district and all applicable laws.

Screened Volunteers

1. District staff must direct persons wishing to serve as a screened volunteer to the superintendent's or designee's office for volunteer certification. Supervisors of activities that may require overnight volunteers are encouraged to recruit and certify volunteers at the beginning of the school year because the process may take several weeks or months to complete.

2. Screened volunteers must consent to and complete a criminal background check as required in policy GBEBC prior to being left alone with a student and may be required to submit additional information at the superintendent's or designee's discretion. All information collected regarding screened volunteers will be considered confidential to the extent allowed by law and will be used only to protect the students or minimize disruption to the educational environment.

3. Only screened volunteers may have access to student education records. However, such access is limited to instances where access is necessary for the volunteer to assist the district, and such access must be supervised by staff members. Screened volunteers who are granted access to student records must keep all information confidential.

4. The building principal or designee will provide appropriate training for all screened volunteers.

Note: The reader is encouraged to review policies and/or forms for related information in this administrative area.

AC PROHIBITION AGAINST ILLEGAL DISCRIMINATION, HARASSMENT AND RETALIATION ACA: Sexual Harassment Under Title IX

GBEBC: Criminal Background Checks

GBEBC-AP(1)

§ 168.133, RSMo