NEPN/NSBA Code: IJOC

SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS

The School Committee recognizes that community members can provide valuable services to the schools by sharing their time, talents, and experience. An effective volunteer program allows students to benefit from individual attention, provides enrichment opportunities that supplement the regular educational program, allows teachers to focus on teaching and learning by relieving them of non-teaching tasks, provides interested community members an opportunity to become directly involved with education, and strengthens the relationship between school and community. 

The School Committee approves the use of volunteers to support the school system’s instructional programs and extracurricular activities. The School Committee 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 shall be at least 18 years of age unless their volunteer work is 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 only provide services as approved in advance by the Superintendent/designee. Assignment, continuation, or termination of volunteers shall be at the discretion of a building principal or director. 

Volunteers serve under the direction and supervision of the building principal or designated staff. When volunteers work with children, their activities will be under the direct and immediate supervision of the classroom teacher, coach, activity adviser, or other designated employee. Volunteers will only be assigned to staff who request them. Volunteers should perform only those tasks that have been assigned. 

Volunteers are expected to abide by all School Committee policies, procedures, and school rules when performing their assigned responsibilities. The building principal or director shall make volunteers aware of applicable policies, procedures, and rules before they undertake their first assignment through a volunteer orientation, volunteer handbook, or other means. 

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 director. 

Authorization requirements for Volunteer Coaches are specifically addressed in policy GCAAD-R. For all other volunteers, in the interest of protecting the safety of students and staff, the school district will conduct criminal background checks, including sex offender registry checks, on all volunteers who will be working directly with or will have access to students, including those chaperoning students on field trips or school-sponsored excursions. The school unit will bear the cost of criminal background checks if required. 

Information collected during this screening process will be treated as confidential to the extent allowed by law.

The Superintendent shall develop an administrative procedure to implement this policy, which will include maintaining a central roster of screened volunteers and ensure that school administrators and staff who have responsibilities for screening prospective volunteers are diligent and consistent in following this procedure. 

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

The School Committee will recognize volunteer service on an annual basis. The building principal or director will be responsible for the appropriate school recognition of volunteers. 

Legal Reference: 20-A M.R.S.A. § 1002 

Cross Reference: EEAG - Student Transportation in Private 

Vehicles IJOA - Field Trips and Excursions 

GCAAD-R – Volunteer Coaches 

Adopted: October 30, 2017

Revised: July 15, 2024