IJOC School Volunteers

SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS

The RSURegional School Unit 1 Board ofrecognizes Directorsthat welcomescommunity members can provide valuable services to the schools by sharing their time, talents and encouragesexperience. An effective volunteer program allows students to benefit from individual attention, provides enrichment opportunities that supplement the regular educational program, provides interested community members an opportunity to become directly involved with education, and strengthens the relationship between school and community.

The Board approves the use of volunteers to support the school system’s instructional programs and extracurricular activities. The Board adopts this policy to provide direction for the school system’s volunteer program.

For the purpose of this policy, a volunteer is a person who provides services, without compensation or benefits of any kind or amount, on an occasional or regular basis in the schools or in school activities.

All volunteers inshall ourbe schools.at Schoolleast 18 years of age unless their volunteer programswork mustis part of a class, is done to fulfill a service learning or community service requirement for graduation, or is done by a recognized student organization.

Volunteers may provide adequateassistance screeningby:

and

A. reasonableTutoring students on a one-to-one or small group basis under the direct supervision of volunteersthe basedclassroom uponteacher; B. Using their special musical, artistic or other talents to provide enrichment experiences and extend student learning; C. Reading to children; D. Playing instructional games; E. Providing services in libraries, lunchrooms and playgrounds; F. Accompanying students on field trips; G. Assisting teachers in assembling instructional materials; and H. Assisting in school plays, music programs and other extracurricular activities.

Volunteers serve under the amountdirection and supervision of studentthe contactbuilding and adequate training of volunteers.

Before a person can volunteer, heprincipal or shedesignated staff. When volunteers work with children, their activities will be screenedunder the direct and immediate supervision of the classroom teacher, coach, activity adviser, or other designated employee.

Approval, assignment, continuation, or termination of volunteers shall be at the discretion of the building principal/designee.

Staff must have their use of volunteers approved in advance by the building principal. Volunteers will only be assigned to staff who request them.

Volunteers are expected to abide by all Board policies, procedures and school rules when performing their assigned responsibilities. The building principal shall make volunteers aware of applicable policies, procedures, and rules before they undertake their first assignment through a backgroundvolunteer check.orientation, Thevolunteer objectivehandbook, or other means.

Volunteers should perform only those tasks that have been assigned.

Volunteers will not have access to confidential information in student records except as allowed by federal or state law or regulations and will be responsible for maintaining confidentiality regarding information seen or heard while working as a volunteer.

Persons interested in volunteering time or services should contact the building principal or classroom teacher. Prospective volunteers will be required to complete a written application. Volunteer applications will be submitted on an annual basis.

In the interest of screening is to ensure, so far as is reasonably possible, that students are safe in school environments. Volunteers are bound by the standards of conduct applicable to school employees. The principal/designee may terminate the services of a volunteer if he/she deems it to be appropriate. RSU 1 reserves the right to decline the services of a volunteer at any time, for any reason. Volunteers whose history demonstrates a risk toprotecting the safety or well-being of students and staffstaff, Regional School Unit 1 will conduct criminal background checks and sex offender registry checks on all volunteers who will be deniedworking participation.directly Amongwith or will have access to students, including those chaperoning students on field trips or school-sponsored excursions.

Information collected during this screening process will be treated as confidential to the factorsextent takenallowed intoby considerationlaw.

is

Volunteers may not transport students in private vehicles except as allowed by Board policy.

The school unit will provide liability insurance protection for volunteers while performing assigned services.

The Superintendent will be responsible for devising a method for evaluating the natureeffectiveness of the offense,volunteer theprogram ageon ofan theannual personbasis.

at

Legal theReference: time20-A ofM.R.S.A. the§ offense,1002

Cross Reference: EEAG - Student Transportation in Private Vehicles IJOA - Field Trips and the amount of time between the date of the offense and the date of the application. The Superintendent or his/her designee shall be satisfied that volunteers be of sufficient moral character so as not to represent a danger to students and staff.Excursions

Guidelines for disqualification:

• Registered sex offenders;

• Currently on probation;

• Conviction of or Plea of No Contest to any felony;

• Conviction of or Plea of No Contest to any misdemeanor that indicates the volunteer may pose a threat to the integrity or safety of the school environment;

• More than one OUI;

• A pattern of criminal charges, even if the charges were dismissed, which causes concerns that the volunteer may pose a threat to the integrity or safety of the school environment.

Adopted: February 27, 2012 Revised: December 15, 2025