VOLUNTEERS

VOLUNTEERS

po8120Adopted January 18, 2024

8120 - VOLUNTEERS

The Governing Board recognizes that certain programs and activities can be enhanced through the use of volunteers who have particular knowledge or skills that will be helpful to members of the professional staff responsible for the conduct of those programs and activities.

Volunteers for Extra-Curricular Activities

Volunteers who direct, supervise, or coach a student activity program that involves athletics, routine or regular physical activity, or activities with health and safety considerations may be required to obtain a pupil activity permit issued by the Ohio Department of Education (ODE). As provided in ODE guidance, the District shall determine which staff members need to have a permit. However, in accordance with OHSAA General Regulations, coaches, paid and/or volunteer, in grades seven (7) through twelve (12) who do not possess the Pupil Activity Program/Coaching Permit shall not be permitted to coach at any level at an OHSAA member school. Such qualifications shall include completion of a sudden cardiac arrest training course approved by the Department of Health, in accordance with R.C. 3319.303. The qualifications shall also include completion of a student mental health training course approved by the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. The mental health training course may be combined with or part of another training course. Such training must be completed each time the individual applies for or renews a Pupil Activity Program Permit. Individuals who have applied for a Permit but who have not yet been issued a valid credential shall not be permitted to interact with athletes, even under the supervision of a credentialed coach, until the Pupil Activity Permit number is formally issued.

These volunteers will submit to a background check and take courses as may be required by the Ohio Department of Education.

The cost of obtaining the permit will be at the volunteer's expense.

General Requirements

The Superintendent is to inform each volunteer that they:

  1. are required to abide by all Governing Board policies and District guidelines while on duty as a volunteer (including, but not limited to, the volunteer's obligation to keep confidential and not release or permit access to any and all student personally identifiable information to which they are exposed except as authorized by law);
  2. will be covered under the District's liability policy but the District can not provide any type of health insurance to cover illness or accident incurred while serving as a volunteer, nor is the person eligible for workers' compensation;
  3. will be asked to sign a form releasing the District of any obligation should the volunteer become ill or receive an injury as a result of their volunteer services;
  4. may not accept compensation from any third party or source including, but not limited to, booster, parent, or other District support organizations for the performance of their official duties as a volunteer on behalf of the Board. 

Furthermore, the Superintendent shall inform all volunteers to display appropriate behavior at all times, and that they shall have to provide a set of fingerprints so that a criminal records check can be conducted at the Board’s expense and that they shall have to pay the costs associated with the criminal records check either before they can begin their duties, or as a condition of continued service as a volunteer at the discretion of the Board.

Furthermore, the Superintendent shall inform all volunteers who work or apply to work unsupervised with children on a regular basis of the need to display appropriate behavior at all times, and that they have to provide a set of fingerprints so that a criminal records check can be conducted at the expense set forth in the applicable service agreement or program area upon approval of the Superintendent,  either before they can begin their duties or as a condition of continued service as a volunteer at the discretion of the Governing Board.

If a criminal records check indicates that a volunteer has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any of the offenses listed below and/or described in R.C. 109.572 (A)(1), the volunteer will be informed either that the Governing Board is no longer interested in maintaining their volunteer service or that the volunteer will be assigned to duties for which they will not work unsupervised with children.

The Superintendent shall inform each volunteer of the District's appreciation for their time and efforts in assisting in the operation of the schools and for their understanding with regard to the need for all volunteers to be subject to possible criminal records check.

Offenses

No person is to be accepted or maintained as a volunteer if they have been convicted of any of the following offenses:

  1. aggravated murder, murder, voluntary manslaughter, involuntary manslaughter
  2. felonious assault, aggravated assault, assault
  3. failing to provide for a functionally impaired person
  4. aggravated menacing 
  5. patient abuse or neglect
  6. kidnapping, abduction, child stealing, criminal child enticement
  7. rape, sexual battery, corruption of a minor, gross sexual imposition, sexual imposition, importuning, voyeurism, public indecency, felonious sexual penetration, compelling prostitution, promoting prostitution, procuring prostitution, disseminating matter harmful to juveniles, pandering obscenity, pandering obscenity involving a minor, pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor, illegal use of minor in nudity-oriented material or performance
  8. aggravated robbery, robbery
  9. aggravated burglary, burglary
  10. abortion without informed consent
  11. endangering children
  12. contributing to the delinquency of children
  13. domestic violence
  14. carrying concealed weapons, having weapons while under disability, improperly discharging firearm at or into a habitation or school
  15. corrupting another with drugs
  16. trafficking in drugs
  17. illegal manufacture of drugs or cultivation of marijuana
  18. funding of drug or marijuana trafficking
  19. illegal administration or distribution of anabolic steroids 
  20. drug possession offenses (that are not a minor drug possession offense)
  21. placing harmful objects in or adulterating food or confection
  22. a felony
  23. an offense of violence
  24. a theft offense (as defined in R.C. 2913.01)
  25. a drug offense (as defined in R.C. 2925.01, that is not a minor misdemeanor)

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