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Volunteer

The Saucon Valley School District supports and encourages the participation of parents/guardians and community residents to enhance the educational, co-curricular and extracurricular programs of the district.

Types of Volunteers

Position Volunteer

  • An adult applying for holding an unpaid position with a school or a program, activity or service, as a person responsible for the child’s welfare or having direct volunteer contact with children. Examples include, but are not limited to, field trip chaperones, tutors, coaches, activity advisor, recess or library aides, etc.
 

Guest Volunteer

  • An adult who voluntarily provides a service to the district, without compensation, who: (1) works directly under the supervision and direction of a school administrator, a teacher or other member of the school staff; and (2) does not have direct volunteer contact. Examples include, but are not limited to, volunteering to assist in classroom celebrations, school assemblies, or school concerts; reading to students; collecting tickets at sporting events; working concession stands; participating in “Career Day,” etc.

Requirements

Each prospective position volunteer shall complete and submit a volunteer application. The names of all position volunteers shall be submitted for approval by the Board.

The names of all guest volunteers shall be submitted for approval by the building principal or designee.

Upon approval, volunteers shall be placed on the list of approved volunteers. Approval shall be required prior to beginning service as a volunteer.

Certifications

Prior to approval, all position volunteers shall submit the following information:
  • ✔ PA Child Abuse History Certification – must be less than sixty (60) months old.
  • ✔ PA State Police Criminal History Record Information – must be less than sixty (60) months old.
  • ✔ Disclosure Statement for Volunteers – affirming the applicant has not been disqualified by conviction of designated criminal offenses or being listed as the perpetrator in a founded report of child abuse.

If a position volunteer has not been a resident of Pennsylvania during the entirety of the previous ten (10) year period, the position volunteer must also submit the following information:

Federal Criminal History Report

Information submitted by volunteers shall be maintained centrally in a manner similar to that used for school employees.
Position volunteers shall obtain and submit new certifications every sixty (60) months.
A student, eighteen (18) years of age or older, volunteering for an event or activity sponsored by the school in which the student is enrolled and occurring on the school’s grounds, shall not be required to submit certifications except when the event is for children in the care of a child-care service or the student will otherwise be responsible for the welfare of a child.

Tuberculosis Test

Prior to participating in student activities, volunteers working ten (10) or more hours per week in direct contact with students shall undergo a tuberculosis test, when required by the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

Arrest or Conviction Reporting Requirements

Position volunteers shall report to the Superintendent or designee, in writing, within seventy-two (72) hours, any arrest or conviction required to be reported by law or notification that the volunteer has been named as a perpetrator in a founded or indicated report pursuant to the Child Protective Services Law.
The Superintendent or designee shall immediately require a position volunteer to submit new certifications if there is a reasonable belief that the volunteer was arrested for or convicted of a reportable offense, was named as a perpetrator, or has provided written notice of such occurrence.
Failure to accurately report such occurrences may result in disciplinary action up to and including denial of volunteer service and possible criminal prosecution.

Child Abuse Reporting

All volunteers who have reasonable cause to suspect that a child is the victim of child abuse shall make a report in accordance with applicable law, Board policy, and administrative regulations.

Confidentiality

No volunteer shall be permitted access to confidential student information unless deemed necessary by the supervisor. Volunteers with such access must maintain confidentiality per district policies, procedures, and law. Questions should be directed to the building principal.