Number: 916
Section: Community
Title: Volunteer Assistants
Date Adopted: February 11, 1980
Date Revised:  

Purpose
The Board recognizes that community volunteers can make valuable contributions to the educational program. The use of community volunteers is endorsed by the Board, subject to the legal requirements and administrative procedures.

Volunteer assistants are subject to all regulations and procedures established in this policy.

Authority
A volunteer is defined as a non-salaried person who contributes his/her services working with children, either supervised or unsupervised, on a scheduled basis to assist a program in any of the district's schools.

Guidelines
 In order to maintain cordial and constructive relationships with other educational institutions, the Superintendent or appropriate administrators shall cooperate to insure an effective educational program for the students so involved.

Relationship To Certified Employee

Volunteer assistants are assigned to help authorized, salaried activity sponsors or coaches provide services to students.

Volunteer assistants are not assigned for the purpose of relieving salaried personnel of their responsibilities.

All volunteer assistants shall be, whenever practical, under the direct supervision of an authorized, salaried personnel of their responsibilities.

Under no circumstances shall volunteer assistants be assigned any of the following duties or responsibilities:

1. determining and assigning coaching practices or activities

2. directing and/or controlling any activities not approved by his/her immediate supervisor

3. evaluating a student's growth and development other than through informal communication with his/her immediate coach or sponsor

4. making reports to parents, guardians or school administrators with respect to a pupil's progress or development in the extra-curricular activity

5. making reports to parents, guardians or school administrators with respect to evaluating any certified employee competency, level of preparation, discipline, working environment or any other aspect of the school's program

6. determining any disciplinary action relating to students

7. excusing pupils from attendance or participation in any class or school-related activity

8. acting in any other capacity relating to instruction which has been delegated to the coach or sponsor without the direct supervision of the salaried coach or sponsor

The following stipulations shall be made for volunteer assistants assigned on a scheduled basis:

1. the principal or his/her designee shall assume general authority and responsibility over all volunteer assistants.

2. all volunteer assistants will undergo a tuberculosis examination upon initial volunteer duties in accordance with the regulations of the Advisory Health Board. The school nurse shall provide tuberculosis tests for volunteer assistants.

3. all volunteer assistants must comply with the Criminal History Background (Act 34) and Child Abuse History Clearance (Act 151) procedures and show the original document to the school principal, who will forward the original to the Human Resources Office and keep a copy in the school office, at the beginning of the volunteer’s service to the district. These clearances must be renewed once there has been a break in the volunteer’s service to the school district.

Authority
After twenty-five (25) calendar days of volunteer work, the school district shall reimburse each volunteer assistant for the amount of Act 34 and Act 151 clearance fees upon viewing the original clearances, and keeping copies for school records, of each volunteer assistant's clearances which are void of any criminal records and/or child abuse history.

The Board shall provide authorized volunteers the same liability insurance coverage as provided for employees of the district.

However, under no circumstances shall a volunteer be considered an employee of the district. A volunteer shall receive no wages or other valuable consideration for the performance of volunteer services. The volunteer position is not a right, but rather a privilege which is conferred by the Board and administration. As such, any volunteer position may be eliminated at any time for any reason or no reason. Also, any volunteer may be removed from a volunteer position for any reason or no reason.

Delegation of Responsibility

A monthly report of all volunteer assistants assigned on a scheduled basis to specific assignments must be made to the Superintendent and the Board of Education.