WCPSS: Board Policy - School Volunteers (5422 = R&P)

5422=20 R&P

SCHOOL = VOLUNTEERS

5422=20 R&P

5422.1

The Board of Education encourages = schools to=20 develop and maintain a strong volunteer program that provides = varied=20 opportunities for parents and members of the community to be = active=20 partners in support of the instructional program and school = climate. The Board encourages = schools to be=20 sensitive to a parent=92s limitation of time and distance from a = school=20 which may restrict some parents from volunteer work and to use = innovative=20 strategies that support families and their involvement in = school-related=20 activities. For = example,=20 activities may be developed that allow at-home=20 participation. =20

5422.2

All volunteers will complete an = on-line=20 application at a school. Volunteers will apply as Level 1, 2, 3 or = 4. &n= bsp; &nb= sp; =20 &n= bsp;

Level 1: =20 Volunteer activity takes place with supervision and = involves little=20 or no student contact. &n= bsp; &nb= sp; &nbs= p; = ; = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; =20

Level 2: =20 Volunteer activity takes place in a classroom or other = group=20 setting and is supervised by school staff. &n= bsp; &nb= sp; &nbs= p; = ; = =20

Level 3: =20 Volunteer activity involves direct contact with students = under=20 limited supervision by school staff. &n= bsp; =20 &n= bsp; &nb= sp; &nbs= p; = ; =

Level 4: =20 Volunteer activity allows unsupervised contact with = student(s) on=20 or off campus. &n= bsp; &nb= sp; &nbs= p; = ; =

5422.3

Criminal=20 background checks shall be required of all volunteers working = individually=20 with students under limited or no supervision by other staff(Level 3 and 4 activities) in programs = that are=20 sponsored or co-sponsored by the Wake County Public School System, = that=20 receive funding from the school system, or that collaborate with = the=20 school system.

5422.4

Volunteers, whose prior history, = including=20 criminal history, demonstrates a risk to the safety or well-being = of=20 students, will be denied participation in Level 3 and 4 = activities.=20 Conditions for rejecting a volunteer=92s participation in Level 3 = and 4=20 activities may include but not be limited to the following:=20

=B7 =20 Conviction=20 of or Plea of No Contest to any = felony.

=B7 =20 Conviction=20 of or Plea of No Contest to any misdemeanor that indicates the = volunteer=20 may pose a threat to the integrity or safety of the school=20 environment.

=B7 =20 More than=20 one DWI

=B7 =20 A pattern=20 of criminal charges, even if the charges were dismissed, which = cause=20 concern that the volunteer may pose a threat to the integrity or = safety of=20 the school environment.

If the Wake County = Public=20 School System learns that an individual is a registered sex = offender, this=20 individual will be barred from volunteering at all four=20 levels.

5422.5

All volunteers shall = sign in=20 when arriving on campus, shall wear a school-developed = identification tag=20 while participating in volunteer activities, and shall state where = they=20 will be during their visit. =20 Volunteers shall sign out when departing the=20 campus.

5422.6

Schools shall keep a record of the = number of=20 volunteers and volunteer hours assisting the school each year and = report=20 these figures to the Volunteer Coordinator in Prevention=20 Services.

5422.7

Special training for tutoring and = mentoring or=20 other volunteer activities that require special skills may be=20 required. = Volunteers should=20 understand the expectations of the school program, the issue of=20 confidentiality, and any special procedures required by a = particular=20 school.

5422.8

Adult volunteers who are transporting = students=20 for school-sponsored activities or field trips in a privately = owned=20 vehicle should be aware that they may be held responsible for = injuries to=20 the students they are transporting. =20 Volunteers must complete Form 1713b, =93Notice to Drivers = on School=20 Field Trips,=94 which certifies that their vehicle is covered by = insurance=20 as required by North = Carolina state law before transporting=20 students.

5422.9

All volunteers who are transporting = students=20 must hold a valid driver=92s license, have proof of insurance, and = undergo a=20 criminal and driving record background check. Volunteers, whose = prior=20 driving history, including criminal history, demonstrates a risk = to the=20 safety or well being of students, will be denied Level 3 and 4 = clearance for transporting students. Criteria = for=20 rejecting a volunteer from transporting students may include but = not be=20 limited to the following:

=B7 =20 A history=20 of a prior traffic violation or violations that reflect disregard = for the=20 safety of self and others.

=B7 =20 Any=20 conviction of DWI within the last 10 years is an automatic denial = of=20 clearance to transport = students.

5422.10

The Board of = Education=20 maintains comprehensive general liability insurance which covers = the=20 Board, system employees, and school volunteers for liability = incurred in=20 the performance of their assigned duties. (Note the vehicle = liability=20 exception which is covered in = 5422.8.)

5422.11

Prior to = denial of=20 participation in Level 3 and 4 activities or clearance for = transporting=20 students, a volunteer applicant will be notified of the tentative = decision=20 to deny access or clearance and the reasons therefore. The applicant shall be = given 10=20 days to contact the Volunteer Coordinator to provide any = corrections to=20 the information used to make the determination or to provide = extenuating=20 data.

5422.12

A = volunteer who is=20 deemed to be a threat to the security of a school can be barred = from the=20 campus by the Director of Security or the school principal even if = the=20 volunteer has a clear criminal background=20 check.

Issued: = = December=20 1993

Revised: = May 19,=20 2005