New Volunteer Procedures to Keep Kids Safe

Volunteer Packet
This year, there are some significant changes to the District’s volunteer procedures and application forms that you should be aware of. The changes are due to new legal requirements as well as insurance guidelines that exist to ensure the safety of our students, staff, and volunteers. You will want to get a copy of the new Volunteer Procedures from the school office or from the PIO portal.

Here are the primary changes:
1. Volunteers must be screened before starting their volunteer work.
2. A copy of photo ID is attached to the application
3. Volunteers must be re-screened every two years

Pre-approval: The key to making this new process work is to get parents and community volunteers to apply NOW! Encourage parents to apply now if they think they might volunteer at some point during the school year. Approval could take up to two weeks due to high volume so it’s best to get the approval done early. That way parents will be available for field trips and other tasks because they have been screened ahead of time. Until October 15, past volunteers do not have to be pre-approved but can submit their paperwork on their first day. After October 15, they must be pre-approved like all new volunteers.

Photo ID: Volunteer applicants must now submit a copy of their driver’s license or other photo identification that includes their legal name and date of birth. This helps to verify their identity in the background check. Applicants can make a copy of their own ID or the school can make a copy for them and submit it with the completed application.

Re-applying: The District is now required by law to re-screen volunteers every two years. This means that if volunteers first applied prior to last school year (2005-2006), they must reapply this year. If they don’t remember when they initially applied to volunteer, it’s a good idea to have them reapply now. School secretaries can check the volunteer data base to confirm volunteer status.

The volunteer forms have also been revised with a new format and new questions, and the volunteer handbook has been updated. Parents can get an application packet and handbook from the school or on the district’s Web site.

Questions? There is a Volunteer Program FAQ in the Volunteer Information folder on the PIO portal. The FAQ will help answer a lot of the questions you may have. The new volunteer procedures, application packet, and volunteer handbook are also posted in that folder. If you have any other questions, please contact the Public Information Office at 425.702.3300.

These are big changes that affect a lot of people in our district. Despite the extra work that these changes require, we are all contributing to the end result: Safe Schools!
 

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