Policy 617-R School Volunteers Regulations

A. Recruitment and Screening
The recruitment and screening of community members for district-wide programs, such as the Literacy Program, will be coordinated by the Community Education Department. Recruitment and screening of school site specific volunteers will be coordinated by school offices.

The goal of this process is to address the needs and desires of the district and increase the effectiveness of using volunteers to further the district’s educational and curriculum goals. For district-wide programs, Community Education will work with principals and program directors/coordinators to
identify school program needs and opportunities for the use of volunteers. Background checks will be required for volunteers prior to start date for volunteering If there is a break in volunteer service where a volunteer leaves his/her volunteer job for a period of time and returns again to volunteer, another background check must be completed.

B. Placement and Management
Candidates for volunteering in the district will be selected and placed on the basis of their experience, ability and good character, without regard for race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, marital or parental status, or status with regard to public assistance or disability.

Volunteers will be provided volunteer guidelines and may be provided an orientation session annually. The volunteer guidelines and orientation session will cover basic expectations and necessary information for volunteers, including the following:

A. We depend on our volunteers to maintain confidentiality of our students, staff, and volunteers. Any concerns, observations, or information about a child should be shared only with the person in charge (example: teacher, administrator, or building volunteer facilitator). If there is a breach of
confidentiality a volunteer’s privileges may be revoked.

B. Notify a teacher, principal, or individual in charge if a child gives you information that causes alarm (e.g., they are unable to eat, do not have a place to sleep, inappropriate touch). Volunteers must report suspected child abuse to the building social worker, counselor, or principal. (State law requires you to report such suspicions.)

C. Avoid being totally isolated with a child (e.g., in a room with a closed door).

D. School volunteers and staff must avoid touching students whenever possible. It is the district’s expectation that all physical contact between volunteers must be professional and appropriate.

E. Be aware of any sensitive issue to a child (e.g., in discussing fire safety, a child may be uncomfortable as a fire destroyed their home). Follow the clues children give.

F. Volunteers should use physical intervention only when you believe that a child will hurt themselves or others. If at all possible, volunteers should call another adult for assistance. If you must intervene physically, immediately inform a teacher, principal, or individual in charge of event that you did so. If you must intervene, limit verbalization with a child (i.e., do not argue the issue, do not discuss). Remain calm, do not overreact, isolate the situation. If a situation escalates verbally or physically, call a staff person.

G. In each situation, do not participate in the activity if you feel uncomfortable or are unsure of what is going on.

H. Name tags should be worn by volunteers to identify them to students, staff, and other volunteers.

I. Sign-in each time you participate in a volunteer activity. Sign-in books/computers are kept in the school office for your convenience.

J. Notify a staff person or person in charge of the activity if you will be late or if you will not be able to participate in your volunteer activity.

K. Wayzata Public Schools will provide students, employees, and volunteers with an environment for learning and working that is free from sexual harassment or sexual violence, and prohibits any form of sexual harassment or sexual violence. A complete copy of the District's guidelines on sexual
harassment/sexual violence is available from the Executive Director of Human Resources or Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction.

L. Discipline is the teacher or staff person's responsibility. Volunteers are not expected to discipline a student or classroom. Contact a staff person to help with a discipline issue. A copy of the school discipline policy is available in the school office.

M. For the safety of one-to-one volunteers and the student(s) with whom they work, all interaction between student(s) and volunteer are to take place only at scheduled time in the schools.

N. Volunteers should not give gifts (e.g. candy, treats, birthday gifts, holiday gifts) to students or their families.

O. All volunteers must work under the direct supervision of a paid staff person. The direct supervisor will communicate with the volunteer and provide direction when needed.

• Adopted: October 1, 1992
• Amended: December 22, 1994
• Amended: August 16, 2004
• Amended: April 9, 2007
• Amended: June 10, 2019
• Amended: March 14, 2022
• Last Reviewed: March 14, 2022

• Policy 617 - School Volunteers