- Durham Public Schools
- Volunteer FAQS
Volunteering
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- Why must I have a criminal background check to participate
in volunteer activities at my child’s school? The safety of all students in
Durham Public Schools is our first priority. While we encourage, appreciate and
celebrate parental involvement in your child’s school, it’s important that we
avoid any situation in which a volunteer might compromise student safety.
- Last year, I volunteered at my child’s school Book Fair and
in the classroom. I didn’t need a background check. Why do I need one this
year? For the past several years, DPS offered three “tiers” of volunteer
participation. Unfortunately, it was impossible for schools to track volunteers
closely enough to ensure that volunteers cleared for a lower tier activity -
without a background check - did not participate in higher-tier activities. The
elimination of tiers will ensure that all parents and all situations are
treated consistently.
- Last year, I chaperoned two field trips without a background
check. Why has the policy changed? The policy has not changed; the complexity
of monitoring the tier information led to inconsistent application of the
background check for field trips and similar activities. Background checks have
always been a requirement for field trips to ensure student safety.
- Does this mean I can’t be involved with the school without a
background check? Not at all. We value your participation in your child’s
school. Take advantage of open houses, curriculum nights, book fairs,
beautification days, athletic associations, booster clubs, school performances
and parent-teacher conferences. Talk with your child’s teachers, especially if
you have questions or concerns about his/her performance of class rules and
expectations. Parents and guardians are strongly encouraged to be involved with
your school’s parent-teacher association.
- What’s the difference between volunteering and parent
involvement? Volunteering takes involvement to another level in activities with
potential contact with students. Individuals are defined as volunteers if
participating in activities in which all students are not under the supervision
of their parents/guardians. For instance, if a book fair takes place during the
school day and the teacher brings the class to the fair, volunteers would have
to possess an approved background check. A book fair in the evening in which
students are accompanied by parents would not require volunteers with approved
background checks.
- I don’t want to be a chaperone on a field trip - I simply
want to go along to accompany my child. Can I do this without submitting a
volunteer application form? We understand your interest in accompanying your
own child. However, any adult on a field trip is going to be potentially
involved with other children. Teachers cannot monitor which parents on the trip
are cleared and which are not. For the safety of your child and all children,
it’s important that any adult on a field trip be cleared as an approved
volunteer.
- Isn’t it my right to be able to accompany my child? We
understand how you might feel this way. Field trips and similar educational
opportunities are school activities that are provided for your child, and
there’s no requirement for you to participate in order for him/her to take
part. However, accompanying your child on a field trip is a volunteer activity.
Volunteer!
- If I can’t accompany my child, is he/she required to
participate? No. You may choose for your child not to participate in the field
trip but please remember that field trips are planned as part of the overall
educational program of the school and the district attendance policy is in
effect.
- If I choose to provide my own transportation to the site of
the field trip or activity so that I can keep an eye on my child, and I’m in a
public space,how can the school system prevent me from being there? Of course
you have every right to be in a public place. As long as you keep a distance
from the school group and don’t interact with them there will be no problem. If
you try to engage with the group, however, you will be asked to “sign out” your
child from the group just as you “sign out” from school and cannot “sign in” at
the end of the field trip for transportation back to school.
- I paid to go on the field trip. What happens to my money if
I am not cleared to go on the trip? The decision to refund a person for a field
trip is a sitebased decision made by the principal and is typically addressed
in the individual school’s handbook.
- What if I don’t have a social security number? The volunteer
application form requires either a social security number or a US I-94 VISA
number. If an applicant does not have either of the items listed, please see
the school principal.
- What if I don’t have a driver’s license? The driver’s
license and/or state identification number are not required, however they are
requested as additional items of identification for the background check only.
- Is there an age limit to be a volunteer in DPS? You must be
at least 18 years old to submit a DPS volunteer application. Individuals under
age 18 may volunteer with the permission of the school principal and with
parental consent.
- How long does the background check process take? The normal
processing time is 7–10 business days. The process may take longer in high
volume months such as September, October, January and May. The background check
is a national check and some states may take longer to process requests.
- How do I sign up to be a volunteer? You may go on-line to
the DPS website and fill out the electronic application form at
www.dpsnc.net/volunteers If you do not have access to the on-line application,
you may use a paper application which take longer to process.
- If I have additional questions who should I contact? You should first contact the school volunteer coordinator or school principal.
- Why must I have a criminal background check to participate
in volunteer activities at my child’s school? The safety of all students in
Durham Public Schools is our first priority. While we encourage, appreciate and
celebrate parental involvement in your child’s school, it’s important that we
avoid any situation in which a volunteer might compromise student safety.