A school volunteer is any non-paid individual who gives his/her time to a school or school staff member while performing assigned duties. Duties assigned to school volunteers shall be consistent with Florida statutes and State Board of Education rules.

The District's volunteer coordinator shall be responsible for the District's volunteer program and for providing assistance and support for school-based volunteer programs. The District's volunteer program staff shall encourage and facilitate community involvement in education, conduct training for school-level volunteer coordinators, offer workshops for volunteers and community members, and promote recognition for volunteers and their contributions.

Each principal shall designate a school-level volunteer coordinator who shall work under the direction of the principal and in cooperation with the District's volunteer coordinator to implement and organize the volunteer program at the school.

Each school shall maintain a volunteer services record which will record the volunteer's name, date, and hours of service; name of the supervising staff person; and the nature of the volunteer activity. All volunteers shall sign in and out in the volunteer services record when volunteering at a school. While performing services on school grounds, volunteers shall wear name tags.

Prior to being approved as a volunteer, an applicant shall complete an application, and may participate in an interview, and receive orientation. Volunteers are subject to a background check against the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's sexual predator/sex offender registry. The volunteer application shall require that the applicant disclose if s/he has ever been convicted or had adjudication withheld in a criminal offense other than a minor traffic violation or if any criminal charges are pending.

Any applicant who has been convicted of a crime that would disqualify him/her for employment in the District, under the criteria of and Policy 4121.01, Criminal Background and Employment, shall not be accepted as a volunteer.

For purposes of this policy, "convicted" means there has been a determination of guilt as a result of a trial or the entry of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, regardless of whether adjudication is withheld. (F.S. 943.0435)

The school principal and each staff member who supervises a school volunteer shall be responsible for supervising volunteers serving in their schools and for assigning duties to school volunteers which are consistent with Florida statutes, State Board of Education rules, and Board policies. Volunteers shall work under the direction and supervision of teachers and other staff members.

Volunteers shall maintain strict confidentiality of all school or classroom information to which they have access while performing their volunteer activities. Volunteers shall be allowed access to personally identifiable student information only with approval of the principal or designee and to the extent necessary to fulfill an assigned activity.

School volunteers shall not:

A school volunteer shall be accorded the same protection of Florida statutes as accorded to certificated instructional personnel provided the school volunteer:

The Superintendent shall issue directives concerning school volunteers as may be deemed necessary.

F.S. 1002.23, 1009.64, 1012.01, 1012.27

Adopted 7/17/07
Revised 3/20/12