We appreciate volunteers who donate their time and talents to our students and staff! We invite you to become a part of the Hopkins County Schools' Volunteer Program. Everyone can help make a difference in our schools!

Background Check

If this is your first time volunteering in our district and you will have contact with students on a regularly scheduled or continuing basis OR you will have supervisory responsibility for children at a school site or on a school-sponsored trip, you must complete an online application and provide information for background checks. (Detailed instructions are available on the Steps to Becoming a Volunteer website.)

The records check requirement does not apply to parents who provide assistance with a single or sporadically scheduled school event and who are not responsible for supervising students at these events. All volunteers are required to be "under the direction and supervision of professional administrative and teaching staff."

A state criminal records check may be conducted at any time on any volunteer upon request of the Superintendent/designee.

Confidentiality

As you work with staff and students, you may be exposed to confidential information. All volunteers must sign a confidentiality statement on file at the school where you are volunteering.

Name Badge / Sign In/Out

When you check into the office upon arrival, please get a volunteer badge and wear it all times while on school property.

School Safety

Each school has safety procedures that will need to be followed. The school where you volunteer should furnish this to you. This information shall include, but not be limited to, pertinent policies and safety and emergency procedures.

Volunteers (03.6)

Definition

Volunteers are persons who do not receive compensation for assisting in school or District programs. Volunteers are encouraged to use their time and effort to support school and District programs. The Superintendent shall develop procedures that encourage volunteers to assist in school and/or District programs and to facilitate effective communication with persons who volunteer.

Teacher education students or students enrolled in an educational institution and who participate in observations and educational activities under direct supervision of a local school teacher or administrator in a public school shall not be considered volunteers.

Supervision

All volunteers shall provide assistance only under the direction and supervision of a member of the professional administrative and teaching staff.1

Volunteers who assist in the District on a scheduled and/or continuing basis shall be provided with the same liability insurance coverage as a District employee and shall be provided with a written task description detailing responsibilities and expectations, as well as specific qualifications that may be required.

Records Check

The District shall conduct, at District expense, a state criminal records check on all volunteers who have contact with students on a regularly scheduled and/or continuing basis, or who have supervisory responsibility for children at a school site or on school-sponsored trips.

Pursuant to KRS 160.380, the Superintendent/designee also may require volunteers to submit to a state and national criminal (fingerprint) history background check and to provide a clear CA/N check. With prior approval of the Superintendent/designee, the background checks will be conducted at District expense. Otherwise, except as stated previously, the volunteer must pay for the background checks.

No volunteer shall be utilized to supervise students, or deemed to have the authority to supervise students, unless the volunteer has been designated to supervise students by the Principal and approved by the Superintendent/designee, and the volunteer has undergone the required records check.

The program and user instructions are on the Kentucky Online Gateway (KOG).

Work-Based Site Supervisors

Work-based learning site supervisors are considered volunteers. Pursuant to KRS 160.380 and KRS 161.148, prior to being assigned to supervise a student for more than one (1) day in a work-based learning experience, the site supervisor shall have undergone a state criminal background check either as required by their employer at time of employment or within the past twelve (12) months, whichever is the more recent.

Orientation

The Superintendent/designee shall develop orientation materials to be provided to all volunteers who have contact with students on a regularly scheduled or continuing basis. These materials shall include, but not be limited to, pertinent policies and safety and emergency procedures.

References:

¹KRS 161.148

 KRS 160.380

 KRS 161.044

Related Policies:

03.5

08.113; 08.1131

Adopted/Amended: 8/5/2019

Order #13