File:  IJOC - School Volunteers

1.  The Board of Education recognizes the need to develop a volunteer program to support District instructional programs and extra-curricular activities. The purpose of the volunteer program shall be to:

a.    Assist employees in providing more individualized and enrichment of instruction

b.    Build an understanding of school programs among interested citizens, thus stimulating widespread involvement in a total education process; and,

c.    Strengthen school/community partnerships and relationships through positive participation and involvement.

2.  Services of volunteers may be accepted by the Board, the superintendent, central office administrators, principals and assistant principals, managers or persons designated by them to handle this responsibility.

3.  A volunteer is a person who works on an occasional or regular basis at school sites or other educational facilities to support the efforts of professional personnel.  Such a volunteer worker shall serve in that capacity normally without compensation and without employee benefits of any type except for Workers' Compensation and liability protection as provided by State law.

4.  Volunteers may come from all backgrounds and all age groups and may include any persons willing to give their time to one purpose-helping students and school staff.  Volunteers may be involved in virtually every facet of the operation of the School District from working with students on a one-to-one basis to performing tasks not involving students.  Tasks may involve services in the library, classroom, athletics, music, school play, pre-kindergarten programs or assisting on field trips and similar activities

5.  The responsible school personnel shall identify appropriate tasks for volunteers and may plan in-service activities for them so they may become skilled in performing those tasks.  An effort shall be made to use the services of all volunteers, but the decision to use a volunteer shall rest with the classroom teacher or staff member with whom the volunteer will be working upon the approval of school/building administration.

6.  Volunteers shall not teach but may reinforce skills taught by the professional staff.

7.  Volunteers shall be required to make written application for specified services and such services must be approved in writing by the appropriate school personnel listed in paragraph one of this policy.  The completed forms shall be retained in the files of the school official accepting the services of the volunteers.

8.  Volunteers may offer their services to a building or department or they may be recruited by a school principal or designee.  In either case all volunteers must have the following prior to beginning work with District:

a.    Completed volunteer form (which will include general information and emergency contact information)

b.    Executed Confidentiality Statement; and,

c.    Completed Background Check (subject to parameters outlined above).

9.  Volunteers serving in the district may be subject to a background check at any time and shall be under the general supervision of a District staff member.  All volunteers that are serving in the District under the following circumstances will be required to complete a fingerprint background check prior to beginning his/her service:

a.    The volunteer serves in activities in which students participate;

        And/or,

b.  The volunteer is not under the direct supervision/observation of a District employee while serving in the volunteer role or activity.

10.    Volunteers shall conform to all provisions of Board policy.  While transporting students in personal vehicles is discouraged, should a volunteer provide transportation to students in their personal automobiles for any District-sponsored event s/he shall meet the provisions of Board policy regarding transporting students. Volunteers assume personal responsibility when transporting students in their personal automobiles for any school-sponsored activities.

Adopted August 22, 1995

Revised October 11, 2011

LEGAL REFS.:  C.R.S. 8-41-106 (Workers' Compensation Act)

C.R.S. 22-32-113 (4)

C.R.S. 24-10-103 (4)(a) (Colorado Governmental Immunity Act)

C.R.S. 42-7-101 et seq. (Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility Act)

CROSS REF.:  EEAG, Student Transportation in Private Vehicles