D6 School Volunteers

SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS AND STUDENT TEACHERS

The School Board recognizes the valuable contributions to the School made by volunteers and student teachers.  It further recognizes that appropriate supervision of volunteers and student teachers will enhance their contributions as well as fulfill the responsibility that the School District has for the education and safety of its students.

Definitions

Volunteer:  A volunteer is an individual not employed by the School District who participates in school activities on an occasional or regular basis.  A volunteer participates in school activities without compensation or economic benefits.

Student Teacher: A student teacher is working toward a teaching credential.

Date of Draft:               6/26/00

Date Warned:                8/3/00

Date Adopted:               8/16/00

Legal Reference(s):        16 VSA § 565 (Harassment in Education Act)

                                      16 VSA § 260 (supervision policy requirement)

                                      21 VSA § 495

                                      Title IX of the Educational Amendments, 20 U.S.C. sections 1681 et seq., 34 C.F.R. Part 106

                                      Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

                                      42 U.S.C. 2000 E-2, 29 C.F.R. 1604.11

Cross Reference:            Harassment of Students (F16)

                                      Sexual Harassment (D10)

                                      Personnel:  Recruitment, Selection and Appointment (D1)

D6

PROCEDURES FOR SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS & STUDENT TEACHERS

Administrative Responsibilities

• Recruitment:  The Building Administrator is authorized to recruit and approve volunteers and student teachers to participate in the school.  It is the Building Administrator's responsibility to be reasonably sure that the volunteer or student teacher is a person of good character with the ability to make significant contributions to the school.  The Building Administrator may require volunteers and student teachers to complete information forms providing background information including, but not limited to, the dates, locations and dispositions of any convictions, including findings of guilt, pleas of guilty, or nolo contendere, for criminal violations.  A person who fails to provide full and accurate background information in response to the Building Administrator's request will not be permitted to participate with students.

• Placement:  Placement and replacement of volunteers and student teachers will be made by the Building Administrator or his/her designee.

• Conditions of Work:  Volunteers and student teachers will be informed by the Building Administrator of the extent to which school district insurance policies protect them from personal liability resulting from claims against them based on negligence or other injurious conduct while acting in a volunteer or student teacher capacity.

• Supervision:  Volunteers and student teachers who participate directly with students will be under the immediate supervision of a licensed professional employee.  Volunteers and student teachers will not have unsupervised contact with students, except when that contact is of short duration, and necessary in the context of activities planned by and under the direction of professional school staff or contractors employed by the school.  No volunteer or student teacher will have regularly scheduled unsupervised contact with students.

Responsibilities of Volunteers and Student Teachers:

Volunteers and student teachers are responsible for complying with school policies, rules and regulations.

Volunteers and student teachers will be considered staff members for purposes of compliance with the Harassment in Education Act.