School Board Passes New Volunteer Policy, Parent Coaches Allowed

Mahwah schools have decided to allow both parent and non-parent volunteer sports coaches, after a revised version of a new school volunteers policy was passed at last Wednesday’s meeting.

In September, the a proposed volunteer policy that included the stipulation that volunteer athletic coaches at the high school could not have a child on the team after board members and residents expressed concern about the potential rule. The approved policy has that stipulation removed.

According to the board, parents’ feelings on the policy were divided, with some feeling that disallowing parent volunteers would protect players against nepotism, and put an end to “daddy-ball,” and others saying that volunteers could be a pool of talent that could better the school’s sports programs at no cost to the district.

In September, the board decided it would be in the athletic program’s best interest to have head coaches and principals consider volunteers on a case-by-case basis, instead of creating a blanket rule that would close off parents as potential volunteer coaches.

The coach stipulation was just one aspect of the policy passed Wednesday. At an earlier meeting, Board President Patricia Shada said the new policy is “streamlining” the practice of volunteerism at Mahwah schools.

Under the new policy, all volunteers must be recruited and screened by school principals, who will submit their names for board approval. All volunteers must be approved by the board.

Specifically, all volunteer coaches “must have a criminal background check, be fingerprinted at their own expense, sign a waiver for workers’ compensation and provide documentation that a Mantoux [TB] test has been administered, and complete two hours of [Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying] training.”

No volunteers are allowed access to student records or other confidential matters.

Volunteers are also not allowed to be left alone with children, and must work under the supervision of a paid employee of the district. Each year, the Superintendent will report to the board the number of volunteers working in the district, what they do, and how many hours they work.