West Fargo Public Schools Volunteer Handbook

Transcription

1 West Fargo Public Schools Volunteer Handbook

2 WELCOME! We truly appreciate your offering of your time and talents as a volunteer in the West Fargo School District! The efforts of dedicated volunteers, like yourself, enhance the programs, services and opportunities that we can offer to our students. This volunteer handbook is designed to help you in your efforts to learn as much as you can about our schools and our students. We trust that each time you volunteer in our schools, you and the students will have a meaningful and productive educational experience. Thank you for your commitment to the education of the children of West Fargo. If we can be of any help, please call the Human Resources Department at Robin Hill Director of Human Resources

3 TABLE OF CONTENTS I. VOLUNTEER INFORMATION Volunteer Application Volunteer Responsibilities Safety & Security District Policy School Volunteer Program II. WORKPLACE POLICIES Drug Free Workplace Harassment (File AAC) Prohibition of Discrimination, Harassment & Violence Risk Management Program Smoke & Tobacco Free Environment (File ABC-B) Visitors (File ACC-B) APPENDIX School Calendar

4 I. VOLUNTEER INFORMATION VOLUNTEER APPLICATION All volunteers in the West Fargo Public Schools must complete a Volunteer Application and Background Check Authorization prior to their first volunteer experience. Volunteer forms and information are available on the districts web page. West Fargo s homepage is at Generally, as a volunteer, you will only need to complete this form and undergo a background check one time at the beginning of your service. If your volunteer roles vary considerably in nature, you may be asked to complete additional background check procedures. This may be the case when the volunteer role takes on additional responsibility for supervision of/interaction with students. You will complete the Volunteer Application and Background Check Authorization at the school office where you will be volunteering. Some volunteer positions will require a background check that includes a fingerprinting process. School personnel will instruct you as to whether this additional information is required for your background check, and will give you further instruction if needed. The school office will forward all information to the District s Human Resources Department. The Human Resources Department will conduct the appropriate background check, review the results and will hold all results in a confidential file at the district office. VOLUNTEER RESPONSIBILITIES 1. Complete the required documents for the background check as instructed by your school office. This will need to be done in advance of the volunteer assignment. 2. Check in at the school office at the designated starting time for your volunteer assignment. 3. School office personnel will give you a name badge or other ID that you will wear while doing your volunteer work. 4. School office personnel will direct you to the appropriate room and supervisor. Volunteers are expected to hold in the strictest confidence any information about the school (pupils, parents, teacher, principal) which the volunteer might be privy to while on assignment. SAFETY & SECURITY Volunteers must follow all school safety rules at all times. Each school will be responsible for informing volunteers about the safety and security rules in that location.

5 District Policy School Volunteer Program The District shall operate a volunteer program. The program shall be designed and implemented in a safety conscious manner but shall in no way overly consume district resources, monetary or otherwise. Job Descriptions The Superintendent is charged with developing job descriptions for each volunteer position. Descriptions shall, at a minimum, list all screening prerequisites, the scope of job duties associated with each position, and the title of the district employee charged with supervising the volunteer. Job descriptions will be disseminated to potential volunteers upon application. A volunteer s agreement to follow the job description shall be required at the time the District offers a position to the individual. Volunteer Screening Methods used to screen volunteers shall in no way discriminate against any minority group. Anyone wishing to volunteer in district schools shall complete a volunteer application. Completion of this application is a prerequisite for obtaining permission to volunteer in district schools. The application shall be developed by the Superintendent and shall, at a minimum, supply requested references, and attest that they have never been convicted of a crime. The building principal, activities director, or the program director shall evaluate whether the volunteer is qualified to volunteer after checking the volunteer s references and comparing the volunteer s application with the applicable volunteer job description. Individuals deemed qualified shall be considered final applicants for volunteer positions. Final applicants shall be subject to the following screening requirements: 1) Final applicants applying for low risk positions shall submit current residency information and their social security number. The Human Resources Department shall order a background check of sexual offender registries in all states where the volunteer resided. 2) Final applicants applying for moderate risk positions shall be subject to a non fingerprint based state background check. The applicant shall also submit current residency information and their social security number. The Human Resources Department shall order a state criminal background check along with a background check of sexual offender registries in all states where the volunteer resided. 3) Final applicants applying for high risk positions shall be subject to the same background checks as school employees who have unsupervised contact with students. This shall include a fingerprint based state and federal criminal history background check. A final applicant is exempt from these screening requirements if s/he has undergone previous screening through the District in the last 2 years, met district adjudication standards, was offered a position with the District, and is applying for a position with the same or lower risk level than the position in which s/he previously served. The Superintendent shall determine the risk associated with each volunteer position based upon, but not limited to, the following criteria: 1) The vulnerability of the individual(s) served by the volunteer;

6 2) The amount of district supervision over the volunteer; 3) The degree of potential for the volunteer to have regular unsupervised contact with a student or students; 4) The degree of potential for a volunteer to build a sustainable and/or trusting relationship with a student or student(s). Adjudication The Superintendent shall adjudicate final volunteer applicants criminal history records, shall make final determinations about suitability for service, and is authorized to offer qualified final applicants positions with the District. The District is not obligated to utilize the services of any final applicant who, in the adjudicator s judgment, exhibits qualities inconsistent with the district s mission, potentially disruptive to district operations, or potentially threatening to district safety. Final volunteer applicants shall be disqualified for service for at least the following reasons: 1) The applicant has committed a felony, sexual offense (as defined by NDCC ), crime against a child (as defined by NDCC ), or any other offense involving a child victim. 2) The applicant falsified or omitted information submitted during the application process, including, but not limited to, information concerning criminal convictions or pending criminal charges. Final Applicant Rights Records obtained by the District for background and other record checks will be used solely for purposes that they were requested and will only be disseminated and retained in accordance with the personnel records policy. The adjudicator shall advise applicants that the procedure for obtaining, correcting, or updating federal records is contained in 28 CFR and shall give the applicant a reasonable time to correct and/or complete his/her criminal history record or decline to do so before making a determination on qualification for service. Orientation & Training The Board shall develop a list of district policies to which volunteers must abide. The building principal shall make volunteers aware of these policies, procedures, and rules before they begin service through a volunteer orientation, volunteer handbook, or other means and shall inform volunteers of the requirement to abide by these policies, procedures, and rules regardless of whether or not volunteers are specifically named in them. Volunteers shall agree in writing to this requirement prior to performing services for the District. Volunteers shall also receive any required training as delineated in the job description prior to performing services. Disciplinary Sanctions & Authority Except when an emergency situation would warrant otherwise, volunteers shall perform only those duties that they are assigned and abide by applicable policies, procedures, and rules. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in disciplinary action up to and including dismissal from service. The building principal or Superintendent is responsible for disciplining and dismissing volunteers.

7 DRUG FREE WORKPLACE (File DEA-A) The West Fargo Public School District #6 intends to maintain a drug free workplace. The Anti Drug Abuse Act, which was enacted by the federal government in 1988, requires receivers of federal funds to certify that they will maintain a drug free workplace. The unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensing, possession, or use of a controlled substance is prohibited in any building belonging to or used by the West Fargo Public School District or on the grounds of any such building or on any property or in any vehicle belonging to the West Fargo Public School District or at any school related activity. The term "controlled substance" means any drug listed in federal regulations and includes such drugs as marijuana, any narcotic drug, steroids, any hallucinogen, any stimulant, or any depressant. Any employee violating this policy is subject to discipline, which may result in termination of his/her employment. Policies , , on chemical dependency and their procedures may be used if the violation is possession or use. Other violations may result in more immediate action such as discharge and notification of proper authorities including but not limited to the federal agencies for which funds are received. Employees are required to notify the superintendent of any criminal drug statute conviction or a violation occurring in the workplace not later than five days after such conviction. The superintendent will notify any federal agency indicated above of any conviction resulting from a violation occurring in the workplace. This policy shall be distributed to each employee and to each new employee at the time of employment. Agreement to this policy shall become a condition of employment. HARASSMENT (File AAC) PROHIBITION OF DISCRIMINATION, HARASSMENT & VIOLENCE GENERAL STATEMENT OF POLICY The West Fargo School District will maintain a learning and working environment free of discrimination and harassment of any kind. The West Fargo School District prohibits any form of discrimination or harassment based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, age, or status in any group protected by federal or state law. All complaints will be treated fairly and

8 evenhandedly in order to prevent frivolous or malicious accusations. The school board expects administrators and supervisors to make it clear to students and staff that harassment in the school building, on school grounds, or at school sponsored functions will not be tolerated and will be grounds for disciplinary action up to and including suspension or expulsion of students and termination of employment for employees. Harassment is generally defined as any unreasonable and/or repetitive interference, intimidation, hostility, or offensive behavior on the part of any employee, student, or visitor. Harassment may include but is not limited to sexual harassment, racial harassment or harassment because of a physical condition or disability, appearance, or sexual orientation. Incidents involving initiations, hazing, intimidation and/or related activities which are likely to cause bodily danger, physical harm or personal degradation or disgrace resulting in physical or mental harm to students are prohibited. A complete copy of the District Policy on Prohibition of Harassment & Violence along with the complete procedures are available at 20Prohibition%20of%20Discrimination,%20Harassment%20&%20Violence.pdf RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAM The West Fargo School District is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for all of its employees, students and volunteers. To facilitate this objective, the West Fargo Public School District has established a safety and risk management program which places a high priority on the prevention of accidents and injuries, quality health care for injured employees, and a return to work program. This program also aims to improve cost containment through safety training and claims management principles and practices. The administration expects employees, regardless of their position within the district, to cooperate in every respect with the district s safety program. Personal protection equipment, where required, must be worn by all employees with no exception. Hazardous conditions and other safety concerns must be reported immediately to supervisors. All injuries and accidents must be reported immediately to supervisors and to the Human Resources Office. When necessary, obtain medical treatment without delay. The District has designated specific medical providers to treat work related injury.

9 SMOKE AND TOBACCO FREE ENVIRONMENT (FILE ABC-B) Smoking has been identified as one of the leading health problems in the United States. It is the leading cause of premature death, disease, and chronic disability in our country. The Board of Education is concerned about the health of its employees and also recognizes the importance of adult role modeling for students during their formative years. Therefore, the board shall promote non smoking as well as a total refrain from all tobacco use on school property. POLICY Smoking and the use of tobacco products shall be prohibited on school district property and property leased by the school district. This shall include buildings, grounds, and vehicles. ENFORCEMENT Any violation of this policy by a staff member, who is then in the course of his/her employment, shall be referred to the building administrator. That individual shall receive a verbal reprimand for the first violation. For a second violation, that individual shall receive one written warning, with a copy placed in his/her personnel file. Further violations shall be dealt with according to established board policies and procedures dealing with insubordination. The criteria outlined in this file shall apply to all employees. VISITORS (File ACC-B) The West Fargo Public School District school buildings are public buildings and are, therefore, open to the public. Patrons of the West Fargo Public School District No. 6 are both welcome and encouraged to visit our schools. This will create a more meaningful dialogue with citizens and an improved educational program necessary. Special interest groups, or their representatives and merchandisers, can be and often are detraction from the educational atmosphere. 1. All people who are not students or employees of the West Fargo School District, upon entrance must first report to the principal s office to declare their intent and to register. 2. The principal is authorized to refuse admittance of an individual or group when he/she believes it to be in the best interest of the West Fargo Public School District.

10 3. The faculty room is provided for West Fargo Public School District employees and exceptions to this are to be made by the building principal. 4. The principal is authorized to contact law enforcement officials when he/she determines that an individual or group is a threat to security. WEST FARGO SCHOOL DISTRICT CALENDAR Can be found under District Information on the website