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5422 R&P |
SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS |
5422 R&P |
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5422.1 |
The Board of Education encourages schools to
develop and maintain a strong volunteer program that provides varied
opportunities for parents and members of the community to be active partners
in support of the instructional program and school climate. The Board encourages schools to be
sensitive to a parent’s limitation of time and distance from a school which
may restrict some parents from volunteer work and to use innovative
strategies that support families and their involvement in school-related
activities. For example, activities
may be developed that allow at-home participation. |
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5422.2 |
All volunteers will complete an on-line application
at a school. Volunteers will apply as Level 1, 2, 3 or 4. Level 1:
Volunteer activity takes place with supervision and involves little or
no student contact.
Level 2:
Volunteer activity takes place in a classroom or other group setting
and is supervised by school staff.
Level 3:
Volunteer activity involves direct contact with students under limited
supervision by school staff.
Level 4:
Volunteer activity allows unsupervised contact with student(s) on or
off campus. |
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5422.3 |
Criminal
background checks shall be required of all volunteers working individually
with students under limited or no supervision by other staff(Level
3 and 4 activities) in programs that are sponsored or co-sponsored by the
Wake County Public School System, that receive funding from the school
system, or that collaborate with the school system. |
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5422.4 |
Volunteers,
whose prior history, including criminal history, demonstrates a risk to the
safety or well-being of students, will be denied participation in Level 3 and
4 activities. Conditions for rejecting a volunteer’s participation in Level 3
and 4 activities may include but not be limited to the following: ·
Conviction of
or Plea of No Contest to any felony. ·
Conviction of
or Plea of No Contest to any misdemeanor that indicates the volunteer may
pose a threat to the integrity or safety of the school environment. ·
More than one
DWI ·
A pattern of
criminal charges, even if the charges were dismissed, which cause concern
that the volunteer may pose a threat to the integrity or safety of the school
environment. If the Wake
County Public School System learns that an individual is a registered sex
offender, this individual will be barred from volunteering at all four levels. |
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5422.5 |
All volunteers shall sign in when arriving on campus,
shall wear a school-developed identification tag while participating in
volunteer activities, and shall state where they will be during their
visit. Volunteers shall sign out when
departing the campus. |
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5422.6 |
Schools shall keep a record of the number of
volunteers and volunteer hours assisting the school each year and report
these figures to the Volunteer Coordinator in Prevention Services. |
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5422.7 |
Special training for tutoring and mentoring or
other volunteer activities that require special skills may be required. Volunteers should understand the
expectations of the school program, the issue of confidentiality, and any
special procedures required by a particular school. |
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5422.8 |
Adult volunteers who are transporting students for
school-sponsored activities or field trips in a privately owned vehicle
should be aware that they may be held responsible for injuries to the
students they are transporting. Volunteers
must complete Form 1713b, “Notice to Drivers on School Field Trips,” which
certifies that their vehicle is covered by insurance as required by |
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5422.9 |
All
volunteers who are transporting students must hold a valid driver’s license,
have proof of insurance, and undergo a criminal and driving record background
check. Volunteers, whose prior driving history, including criminal history,
demonstrates a risk to the safety or well being of students, will be denied
Level 3 and 4 clearance for transporting students.
Criteria for rejecting a volunteer from transporting students may include but
not be limited to the following: ·
A history of a
prior traffic violation or violations that reflect disregard for the safety
of self and others. ·
Any conviction
of DWI within the last 10 years is an automatic denial of clearance to
transport students. |
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5422.10 |
The
Board of Education maintains comprehensive general liability insurance which
covers the Board, system employees, and school volunteers for liability
incurred in the performance of their assigned duties. (Note the vehicle liability exception which
is covered in 5422.8.) |
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5422.11 |
Prior to denial of
participation in Level 3 and 4 activities or clearance for transporting
students, a volunteer applicant will be notified of the tentative decision to
deny access or clearance and the reasons therefore. The applicant shall be given 10 days to
contact the Volunteer Coordinator to provide any corrections to the
information used to make the determination or to provide extenuating data. |
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5422.12 |
A volunteer who is
deemed to be a threat to the security of a school can be barred from the
campus by the Director of Security or the school principal even if the
volunteer has a clear criminal background check. |
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Revised: May 19, 2005 |
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