Volunteers

Volunteers - BOE Policy 1212

RSD17 recognizes the importance of school volunteers at all levels of schooling. Volunteers can enhance collaboration between the school and community, broaden the school’s educational environment and ultimately enrich students’ school experience. 

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the school principal and then complete the volunteer application on our website.

 

In recognition of the benefit of having volunteers providing services within the schools, the Board supports the involvement of these individuals in accordance with suitable regulations and safeguards to be developed by the Administration. 

  • Volunteers working within the schools must work under the supervision of RSD17 staff. 
  • Volunteers are held to the same standards of conduct as school staff and must observe all Board policies, including applicable policies on the confidentiality of student information. 
  • Volunteers may be required to submit to state and federal criminal record checks and a record check of the Department of Children and Families (“DCF”) Child Abuse and Neglect Registry. 
  • No person who is required to register as a sex offender under state or federal law, or whose name is currently listed on the DCF registry, may volunteer in the District. 
  • All volunteers must comply with all school health and safety protocols in place at the time, including but not limited to any health screening protocols. 
  • No employee of the District shall serve as a volunteer in any capacity, except as may be approved by the Superintendent or his/her designee based on the specific situation. 
  • Persons interested in volunteering their services should contact the school principal.

 

Group I Volunteers 

  • assist school staff members with school activities in the presence of a District employee
  • Background checks will not be required
  • assist school staff members with school activities such as those listed below: 

a. assisting in a classroom, cafeteria, or library when a staff member is present; or 

b. accompanying a class on a field trip during the school day with a staff member; or 

c. helping in the school office during regular school hours; or d. assisting in the cafeteria or library during regular school hours; or 

e. assisting during extracurricular events (e.g., dances, fairs, open houses, sporting events). 

 

Group II Volunteers

  • provide services to students when not in the direct presence of a District employee
  • will be required to complete a consent form regarding the release of information concerning any prior or pending criminal offenses, and such volunteers will be required to submit to a record check of the DCF Child Abuse and Neglect Registry
  • engaged in activities such as those listed below: 

a. accompanying a class on a field trip in which the plans include that students be divided into small groups supervised solely by the volunteer chaperone for any length of time; or 

b. chaperoning an overnight field trip; or 

c. working in direct contact with students without the direct presence of a District employee; or 

d. working as a student intern; or e. coaching. 

 

Screening Procedure 

  • This procedure identifies those situations in which an individual may be required to submit to state and federal criminal record checks and a record check of the Department of Children and Families (“DCF”) Child Abuse and Neglect Registry within 10 days of application and/or request to volunteer within the District. 
  • All results must be received by the Human Resources Central Office designee before the volunteer may commence his or her services. Volunteers required to submit to such checks shall be subject to such checks at least every five (5) years, or more frequently in the discretion of the District. 
  • The results of such checks shall be maintained by the Central Office for a period of five (5) years. No person who is required to register as a sex offender under state or federal law, or whose name is currently listed on the DCF registry, may volunteer in the District.

Prior Approval Required 

  • All school volunteers must be approved in advance by the building principal or other administrative designee. 
  • The school district, acting through the appropriate building administrator or his/her designee, reserves the right to discontinue or disallow the services of any volunteer at any time at the discretion of the administration.

Sign-in Procedure 

  • All volunteers must report to the school office upon arrival to sign in and must report to the office prior to departure to sign out. 
  • A sign-in/sign-out log will be maintained in each school office. We utilize Raptor Visitor Mgmt System which checks the sex offender registry in all 50 states.
  • Volunteers must indicate the purpose of their visit and include any other information (i.e., destination, proof of identification, etc.) as may be required by the log. 
  • Volunteers will be provided with identification badges, which must be displayed during each visit. 
  • All volunteers must comply with all school health and safety protocols in place at the time, including but not limited to any health screening protocols. 

Please review the BOE Policy and Regulations.  Thank you!