VOLUNTEERS,
WORK-STUDY STUDENTS, AND
STUDENT TEACHERS D07
(Mandatory)
Policy
The
Montpelier School District recognizes the valuable contributions made to the
schools by volunteers and work-study students. It further recognizes that appropriate
supervision of volunteers and work-study students will enhance their
contributions as well as fulfill the responsibility that the school district
has for the education and safety of its students.
Definitions
Volunteer: A volunteer is an individual not employed by the
school district who works on an occasional or regular basis in the school
setting to assist the staff. A volunteer works without compensation or economic
benefits.
Work-Study Student: A work-study student
receives compensation for work performed at the school as part of a college
work experience program. For purposes of this policy, an intern, working
without pay, will be considered as a work-study student. A student working
toward a teaching credential who may be placed at a school as a student teacher
is a work-study student.
Administrative Responsibilities
Recruitment: The principal is authorized to recruit and approve
volunteers and work-study students to work in the school. It is the principal's
responsibility to be reasonably sure that the volunteer or work-study student
is a person of good character with the ability to make significant
contributions to the school. The principal may require volunteers and
work-study students to complete information forms providing background information
including, but not limited to whether the individual is currently a defendant
in a criminal proceeding, the dates, locations and dispositions of any
convictions, including findings of guilt, pleas of guilty, or nolo contendere,
for criminal violations. A person who fails to provide full and accurate
background information in response to the principal's request will not be
permitted to work with students. If the position for which a volunteer is being
recruited involves regular unsupervised contact with students, the principal
will carry out a criminal records check on the final candidate in accordance
with the district’s employment policy (D01). The district will not pay any fees
associated with criminal records checks.
Placement: Placement and replacement of volunteers and
work-study students will be made by the principal or the principal's designee.
Conditions of Work: Work-study students will be
informed by the principal of the extent to which school district insurance
policies protect them from personal liability resulting from claims against
them based on negligence or other injurious conduct while acting in a volunteer
or work-study capacity.
Supervision: Generally, volunteers who work directly with
students will be under the immediate supervision of a licensed professional
employee and will not have unsupervised contact with students, except when that
contact is of short duration and necessary in the context of activities planned
by and under the direction of professional school staff or contractors employed
by the school.
Policies and Procedures: The principal will assure
that all volunteers and work-study students are familiar with applicable school
district’s policies and procedures.
Responsibilities of Volunteers and Work-Study Students
1.
Volunteers
and work-study students are responsible for complying with school policies,
rules and procedures, including, but not limited to, the policies regarding
alcohol and drug-free workplace, harassment, tobacco, and discrimination.
2.
Volunteers,
work-study students, and student teachers will be considered staff members for
purposes of compliance with the state and federal harassment statutes.
Date Warned: November 7, 2003
Date Adopted: November 19, 2003
Legal Reference(s): 4 V.S.A.§1102(b)(8) - (Unauthorized disclosure);
16 V.S.A.§565 (Harassment
& hazing prevention)
16 V.S.A.§ 260 (Supervision
policy requirement)
20 V.S.A.§§2062, 2063 (Fees)
20 V.S.A.§2056c -
(Disseminating of criminal history)
21 V.S.A.§495 (Employment
discrimination)
20 U.S.C. §§1681 et seq.
(Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972)
42 U.S.C. §§2000e et seq.
(Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964)
29 C.F.R. 1604.11 (Equal
Employment Opportunities Commission)
42 U.S.C. §5119a - (Child
Protection Act)
Cross Reference(s): Harassment of Students (F20); Harassment of
Employees (D12)
Personnel: Recruitment,
Selection, Appointment, and Criminal Records (D01)