- Section I: Instruction
IJOC - VOLUNTEERS
The Board recognizes that a student’s education is a responsibility shared by the school, the student, and the family. Community volunteers in our schools enrich the educational program and strengthen our schools' relationships with homes, businesses, public agencies and private institutions. The presence of volunteers in the classroom and on school grounds also enhances supervision of students and contributes to school safety. Research indicates that involvement of parents and other caring adults in hersupport of the children’s education increases student achievement. To those ends, the District encourages parents/guardians and other members of the community to share their time, knowledge, and abilities with our students. The District also encourages community members to serve as mentors providing support and motivation to students.
The Board supports community involvement as an integral part of the educational goals of the RSU 21. Therefore, the development of volunteer relationships is recommended and encouraged. Specifically, volunteers can
Enrich the school program by sharing their experiences and talents with students.
Stimulate community interest, concern and support for education.
Provide an opportunity for interested community members to become directly involved with education
Provide students with reinforcement of skills.
Strengthen school-community partnerships through direct and positive participation within the schools.
Improve student self-image and help make learning enjoyable.
Enhance all aspects of the education process.
Duties may involve service to the libraries, classrooms, athletic events, music programs, field trips, tutoring/mentoring youth and similar activities.
The safety and well being of the students, staff and volunteers of the District is paramount. Therefore, the District shall conduct criminal background checks on all volunteers who will be working directly with and/or who have access to students. Background checks will be conducted prior to the first time the individual volunteers to work with students and the District reserves the right to conduct additional background checks periodically thereafter.
Volunteers shall be provided with information about school goals, programs and practices and shall receive an orientation and other training related to their specific responsibilities as appropriate. School volunteers shall be expected to abide by all applicable laws, District policies, and administrative procedures when performing their assigned responsibilities. At their discretion, employees who supervise volunteers may ask any volunteer who violates school rules to leave the campus.
Employees also may confer with the principal or designee regarding any such volunteers. The Superintendent or designee shall be responsible for investigating and resolving complaints regarding volunteers. Employees who supervise volunteers shall ensure that volunteers are assigned meaningful responsibilities that capitalize on their skills and expertise and maximize their contribution to the educational program. All District employees working directly with a volunteer are responsible for directing and supervising the activities of the volunteer with broad supervision provided by the building principal.
Volunteering is a privilege, not a right. Volunteering begins with a positive and productive relationship with a child’s own classroom teacher, where appropriate volunteers should model positive family-school-community relationships respecting the guidelines, set by school staff and communicating courteously and respectfully with all district faculty and staff. The district will not host volunteers who have been charged with sexual abuse or harassment, or who have been convicted of, or plead “no contest” to, a crime other than a minor traffic offense.
Volunteers are representatives of the school community and are upheld to the same professional standards, as is district staff. If at any time, a volunteer’s actions or presence interferes with the positive and productive functioning of an individual child, a classroom, or a school as a whole, the administration reserves the right to reassign and/or remove the volunteer from the school setting. Volunteers shall be restricted from access to confidential student and employee record information except as otherwise specifically provided and consistent with legal requirements and District policies and procedures. Volunteers shall be responsible for maintaining confidentiality regarding information seen or heard while working as a volunteer.
It is the responsibility of District teachers and administrators to recognize the contributions of volunteers, with the advice and assistance of other employees.
School volunteer programs shall be evaluated annually in accordance with established procedures.
Cross Reference: Article I, Section 25
Reviewed: 12/08/97
Amended: 06/11/01
Amended: 09/26/05
Reviewed: 01/25/10
Amended: 01/09/12
- Section I