6:250-AP1 Resource Persons and/or School Volunteers; Screening

The Building Principal or designee directs the use of resource persons and school volunteers within the school building. The use of any individual as a resource person or volunteer is subject to School Board policy 4:170, Safety; administrative procedure 4:175-AP1, Criminal Offender Notification Laws; Screening; and Board policy 8:030, Visitors to and Conduct on School Property. Specifically, the Principal or designee directs recruitment, screening, placement, and training within the following parameters:

Qualifications – Resource persons and volunteers may come from all backgrounds and all age groups. The main qualification is for the individual to have a desire to give his or her time and talent to enrich student learning opportunities and the school community generally.

Individuals Prohibited from Serving as a Volunteer or Resource Person – No individual who is a sex offender, as defined by the Sex Offender Registration Act, or a violent offender against youth, as defined in the Child Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Registration Act, may serve as a resource person or volunteer. [1]

Screening – Whenever a potential resource person or volunteer submits a new information form, the Principal or designee shall screen that individual’s name and address against the: (1) Ill. Sex Offender Registry, www.isp.state.il.us/sor/, and (2) the Violent Offender Against Youth Registry maintained by the Ill. Dept. of State Police (ISP), www.isp.state.il.us/cmvo/. The Principal may also request an individual to submit to a fingerprint-based criminal history records information check in situations where it would be prudent, e.g., extended direct, daily contact with students. In addition, the  Principal or designee shall review monthly[2] the names of individuals who are serving as resource persons or volunteers to determine if any resource person or volunteer appears on the Ill. Sex Offender or Violent Offender Against Youth Registries.

Recruitment – School personnel may recruit resource persons and volunteers through the following resources: parents/guardians, parent organizations, retired teachers and other senior citizen groups, community businesses, local volunteer centers, and universities. If a staff member, other than the Principal, recruits someone, the staff member must provide the individual’s name and address to the Principal.

Role – Resource persons and volunteers serve only in an auxiliary capacity under the direction and direct supervision of a staff member; they are not a substitute for a member of the school staff. Resource persons and volunteers do not have access to confidential student school records.

Selection, Placement, and Supervision – Selection and placement shall be on the basis of an individual’s qualifications and availability and the school’s needs. The individual will be assigned to a staff member only with the staff member’s consent. The relationship between the individual and staff member should be one of mutual respect and confidence.

Requirements – Each resource person and volunteer must register in the school’s main office at the beginning of each visit and wear identifying information, e.g., a name tag, etc., while in the building or serving. Unless he or she has already done so during the current academic year, the individual must complete an information form and waiver. Absent an indication on the form that the individual may not qualify, the individual may proceed to the assigned activity.

An individual is prohibited from being a resource person or volunteer if he or she behaves in any manner that does not align with the District and/or school building’s vision, mission, policy and/or procedures or is otherwise detrimental to the school environment, e.g.,  swearing, failing to be dependable, failing to follow the supervisor’s instructions, committing any criminal act on school grounds or at a school activity, touching a student in a rude or overly forceful manner, failing to dress in an appropriate manner, or violating any school rule, etc.

Training – Each academic year, when an individual first completes the volunteer information form, the Principal or designee will give the individual a copy of this administrative procedure along with other pertinent information. The staff member to whom the individual is assigned is responsible for explaining what is expected of the individual. The Principal or designee should arrange appropriate training opportunities for those volunteer activities requiring a skill or knowledge base, e.g., working in the computer lab.

Cross Reference:

4:170 Safety

4:175-AP1 Criminal Offender Notification Laws; Screening

8:030 Visitors to and Conduct on School Property

Date Adopted:  November 19, 2019

Date Amended:  August 24, 2021