School Board Reduces Obstacles for Some Volunteers

The revisited its rules about school district volunteers on Tuesday night, at least in part due to concerns expressed by many parents that the rules were . 

Beginning in August, the district began to enforce a 2009 regulation that required all volunteers to .

As of Sept. 21, according to personnel lists compiled by the district, just 24 classroom volunteers had been approved by the school board, along with 11 volunteer drivers. 

Some community members reported canceled school field trips due to a lack of parent volunteers. (The superintendent said Tuesday, however, that no field trips were canceled this year because of this issue.)

As of the Oct. 18 board meeting, another 180 volunteers had been approved in the district, with perhaps 400 more in the pipeline, said one district official.

suggested changing the rules, Administrative Regulation 1240, to remove certain hurdles for some volunteers, provided their contact with students is limited. 

Stephenson suggested the creation of three designations for volunteers.

VOLUNTEER I: LEAST CONTACT, FEWEST OBSTACLES

"Volunteer I" participants would not need to turn in a volunteer application, get federal fingerprinting clearance or take a TB test.

Volunteers in this position would have direct contact with students only under supervision, for an hour or less a week (on average), and without one-on-one contact.

These volunteers would never be left alone with students.

Examples in this category could include guest readers, and those helping with class parties, school projects and in the library. 

These volunteers could also be "assisting with day field trips, one-time classroom presentations, fund raising and special events."

These volunteers would simply need to check in, with a photo ID, in the school office for shifts during the school day.

VOLUNTEER II: DRIVERS, ONE-ON-ONE CONTACT, NO SUPERVISION

The second classification, "Volunteer II," would still need to turn in a Volunteer Application, have a Megan's Law background check, get FBI/DOJ fingerprinting clearance and pass a TB screening test. 

These would include "regular and ongoing" volunteers, particularly those who may work one-on-one with kids "outside the direct supervision of staff."

It would also include anyone who hopes to drive as part of his or her duties. (Drivers using their own cars would need to submit DMV driving records, and proof of registration, auto insurance and a driver's license.)

VOLUNTEER III: COACHES FOR ACTIVITIES AND SPORTS

A third volunteer group, athletic and activity coaches, may also need special clearance in addition to documents required for Volunteer IIs: an "Activity Supervisor Clearance Certificate...in accordance with Board policy." (This is up to the superintendent or her designee.)

For volunteers II and III, the district will reimburse $20 toward the cost of the fingerprinting clearance. The cost for families who qualify for free or reduced lunches will be fully reimbursed.

Several board members, along with Albany Teachers Association President David De Hart, said requiring drivers to get fingerprinted and pass a TB test seemed potentially unreasonable and unnecessary. 

"What's the difference with a parent who has to get in a car and drive ... vs. a parent riding on BART?" asked De Hart. "You're not giving relief to elementary school teachers.... It's just more hurdles again for elementary school teachers and other teachers."

Other community members have raised the question of whether TB tests would even be effective in preventing the disease, given their infrequency. (The district requires a new test every four years.) And the net may be cast too wide, with most community members, some have added, simply not at risk for TB.

"A doctor at the last meeting suggested we drop the whole thing. I'm suggesting that we find a more efficient way to check for TB," said .

During public comment, student Teo Maldonado said he's seen the effects of the policy in his own home. His father, he said, used to volunteer to drive students to sporting events. His dad, however, considered the fingerprinting requirement a privacy violation, said the student, and had ceased volunteering for Albany schools.

SUPERINTENDENT'S EXEMPTION FOR TB TESTS

Stephenson added a line into the policy giving "the Superintendent or designee" the authority to exempt from the tuberculosis test requirement "volunteers who serve less than a school year and whose functions do not require frequent or prolonged contact with students." 

Regarding regulations for drivers, she said school principals told her they were comfortable continuing to require fingerprinting, and that she would not recommend any other significant changes to the policy.

She also told the board that this would be the toughest year, as a transition year, in implementing the 2009 regulation. In the future, she said, only kindergarten parents would need to be educated about the rules.

STREAMLINING THE PROCESS

It currently takes several weeks from when parents  until they are approved to begin volunteering, officials said, in part because approval has required a school board ratification vote.

suggested that parents be allowed to begin volunteering as soon as their paperwork is complete, with official ratification to follow at the next possible board meeting.

asked the district to keep an eye on "whether we have sufficient drivers," to make sure the board hasn't "created a policy that prevents our students from participating in activities."

Low also said she hopes principals will be "proactive to get drivers," in letting parents know early on that they'll need to request DMV records.

"This needs to be made clear to families ahead of time," said Low. "Instructions need to be straightforward."

A board vote is not required to revise the policy, only a board advisory or recommendation.

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Read more Albany Patch coverage of the district's volunteer policy here.

Everybody makes mistakes ... ! If there's something in this article you think should be corrected, or if something else is amiss, call editor Emilie Raguso at 510-459-8325 or email her at emilier@patch.com.