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***This thread is a split from the Parenting forum on this topic***
The question of background checks came up in the original thread. I don't know if this is standard but in my area ALL parent volunteers must have a background check prior to any situation where they would be inside the school during the school day or chaperoning fieldtrips. The background checks are done by the local police department and include fingerprinting. So, every parent, whether they are putting books away in the library, doing flash cards or reading with a child or small group of children or giving a speech or demonstration in a classroom must have pre-approval.
Parents who want to volunteer fill out a detailed form and are fingerprinted at the local police station. The list of approved volunteers is then sent to the school. It is updated yearly (but parents only have to be fingerprinted once).
Of course, all teachers and staff members have extremely extensive background checks and are fingerprinted as well.
It is reassuring to parents to know that this is done.
Last edited by Jaded; 07-20-2013 at 11:35 PM..
Reason: Added split explanation
Around here parents who can volunteer during school hours might chaperone on field trips. They are not typically allowed to volunteer beyond that in their own child's classroom. They must pay for and pass the same background check as any school employee (and I think that is a vitally important item all schools should do).
There were more outside of school hours volunteer thing. Fairs, dinners, auctions, extracurricular events, etc.
I would imagine a felony would put you in the "thanks anyway" pile for volunteering, drug convictions, violence of some sort or another...and the obvious, any kind of crime involving a child. I am sure the schools that require background checks also have a list of crimes that would block you from being able to volunteer or work at the school.
I would imagine a felony would put you in the "thanks anyway" pile for volunteering, drug convictions, violence of some sort or another...and the obvious, any kind of crime involving a child. I am sure the schools that require background checks also have a list of crimes that would block you from being able to volunteer or work at the school.
Interesting, I'm wondering if a decades old pot conviction for example would keep out a very good prospective parent volunteer. (No I don't have one ).
Of course, most of the people who actually molest children do it in the utmost secrecy and are never caught, so I'm not sure background checks do anything but invade people's privacy while at the same time provide a dangerous false sense of security.
Interesting, I'm wondering if a decades old pot conviction for example would keep out a very good prospective parent volunteer. (No I don't have one )
I hope so.
If a parent has any sort of drug conviction there is no need for them to be volunteering in the school. There are plenty of opportunities to volunteer outside the classroom for people who have old drug convictions.
Interesting, I'm wondering if a decades old pot conviction for example would keep out a very good prospective parent volunteer. (No I don't have one )
Quote:
Originally Posted by lkb0714
I hope so.
If a parent has any sort of drug conviction there is no need for them to be volunteering in the school. There are plenty of opportunities to volunteer outside the classroom for people who have old drug convictions.
And what if they do, what are the procedures for privacy and whatnot? Are they still allowed on the school property?
Yes, they are allowed on school property. They are not allowed to act as classroom volunteers.
What do you mean privacy? If a parent CHOOSES to volunteer, than they are given the criteria for which their background is going to be checked. At that point if they do not want the principal or secretary or whoever manages the volunteer to know the results of the background check they can choose not to be checked and therefore not to be a classroom volunteer.
And yes, perjury is a criminal offense.
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