Board Policy IFCD: School Volunteers

Volunteers are a valued part of the DeKalb County School District and contribute to the overall student academic achievement, school climate and culture. The following regulation defines volunteer, outlines volunteer levels, and provides volunteer expectations to promote student safety.

In support of student safety, it is required that all schools and administrative offices identify and screen all volunteers in accordance with the following guidelines. Security clearances for volunteers must be renewed every two calendar years. A school volunteer is a non-paid adult who serves in a support capacity under the direction and supervision of school personnel. Public Safety will host mobile fingerprinting in all regions during peak periods. DCSD will cover the cost of fingerprints for all parents and guardians.

This policy applies to volunteers who support school communities virtually and in-person.

All volunteers must complete and sign a Volunteer Release Form. Volunteers will be issued volunteer badges, which must always be displayed while on school property. Volunteers who will come into direct contact with students who are not their own must also complete mandated reporter training per O.C.G.A 19-7-5 prior to participating in any volunteer activities. The school must maintain documentation that the volunteer has completed the required application and training.

This policy does not apply to parents or guardians who are visiting the school building to talk with staff, host classroom parties for children, attend sporting events, or other school-sponsored activities.

Criminal Background Checks To set up a background check, the Background Check Request/ Volunteer Release Form must be completed by the building principal or his/her designee. The volunteer will be required to present the form upon arrival at Public Safety. Per State law, Registered Sexual Offenders are not permitted to be employed by, volunteer at, or loiter on school grounds or areas where minors congregate, O.C.G.A. 42-1-15.

Level 1 Level 1 volunteers are non-district personnel who will have no interaction with students and will not encounter students. Volunteers at this level may be people working on playground construction projects or assisting with facilities maintenance when school is not in session. Level 1 volunteers do not require criminal background checks. Prior to service, Level 1 volunteers will be required to sign a Volunteer Release Form, which will be kept on file at the school.

If it becomes known that Level 1 volunteers have prohibited offenses in their history that would exclude them from volunteer service, they will be disqualified from volunteering in any capacity for the DeKalb County School District.

Level 2 Level 2 volunteers are non-district personnel who will have supervised interaction with students before, during, or after school. Some examples of Level 2 volunteers include, but are not limited to, book fair volunteers and classroom volunteers. Registered sex offenders will not be allowed to volunteer. School administrators shall have the discretion to pursue any additional screening methods, including, but not limited to, personal interviews and reference checks of prior volunteer experience.

Level 3 Level 3 volunteers must be approved by Public Safety and the local school principal prior to the volunteer participating in activities involving direct, unsupervised interaction with students. Examples of Level 3 volunteers include chaperones on overnight field trips, chaperones or volunteers for local school events, volunteer tutors, office/media center volunteers, or any other volunteers who will have any unsupervised interaction with students. Level 3 volunteers shall be fingerprinted by the district and have GBI/FBI criminal background checks on file prior to rendering volunteer services. Registered sex offenders will not be allowed to volunteer. School administrators shall have the discretion to pursue any additional screening methods, including, but not limited to, personal interviews and reference checks.

Exceptions Exceptions to the criminal background requirements may be granted by the Superintendent or designee on a case-by-case basis for guest speakers with legitimate, unique educational value.

Expectations of Volunteers DCSD volunteers are representatives of the school community and must commit to serving as role models for students. As such, volunteers are expected to exhibit high moral standards, integrity, and positive behaviors, as well as demonstrate cultural sensitivity. Volunteers must take personal responsibility for knowing and understanding the system’s ethical standards and applying them before, during, and after all volunteer activities.

All volunteers are expected to:

1. Display appropriate, positive behavior (actions, language, attire) always.

2. Make decisions based on what is best for students in all cases.

3. Maintain honest, equitable, professional relationships with students, parents, staff members, community members, and other volunteers.

4. Abstain from using school contacts and privileges to promote partisan politics, religious views, or to distribute propaganda of any type.

5. Observe local, state, and federal laws, policies, rules, and regulations.

6. Maintain confidentiality of privileged information.

7. Encourage and support cooperation between the school and the community.

8. Safeguard school property, equipment, and materials.

9. Comply with/implement board policies in a spirit of good faith.

Qualification of Volunteers Prior to participating as a DCSD volunteer or engaging in any DCSD volunteer activity, Level 1 volunteers must complete the Volunteer Release Form and submit it to the local school administrator. Level 2 and Level 3 volunteers must complete the Volunteer Release Form and the required background check. The school must maintain evidence that volunteers have completed the Volunteer Release Form, passed the criminal background check, and completed any required volunteer training as directed by the Division of Community Empowerment, Innovation, and Partnerships.

Disqualification of Volunteers Volunteers—including parents—who are excluded from Level 2 or 3 volunteer activities due to a disqualifying offense on the background check or sex offender registry may not participate in volunteer activities.

Parents/guardians who are excluded from volunteer activities may attend public events at the school such as Parent Teacher Association/Organizations meetings and student activities related to their student. See Board Policy KM: Visitors to Schools

Identification School volunteers must sign-in and out in the school office and obtain a visitor badge in accordance with policy and local school procedures.

Access to Student Information School volunteers shall not have access to student information, including Infinite Campus, at any time.