Partners in Education Program Goals

GIBSON COUNTY SPECIAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

VOLUNTEER AND COMMUNITY HANDBOOK

2007 -2008 School Year

HANDBOOK FOR VOLUNTEERS, TUTORS,

BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS

Superintendent

Mr. Robert Galloway

Gibson County Special School District Board

Tommy Griggs – Kenton

Treva Maitland – Spring Hill

Dana Welch – Yorkville

Wade Newbill - Medina

Sara Meals - Gibson

Greg Morris – Dyer

Bruce Pate - Rutherford

2007-2008 Gibson County Special School District Volunteer Program: Taking an active role to support and enhance the development of our community’s greatest resource-our students.

GCSSD Partner in Education Goals

*Provides individual educational assistance to students.

*Improve students’ self-worth by increasing the opportunity for educational achievement.

*Relieve the teacher of many non-instructional tasks and duties.

*Stimulate business and community interest, concern, and support for the educational system.

* Enhance all aspects of the educational process.

Partners in Education Code of Ethics

As members of a movement to improve and enrich the lives of our children, volunteers have a challenging role to play. Here are some guidelines to help.

Volunteers may work directly or indirectly with students. One of the main things to remember is, “Volunteers never replace the teacher.” Volunteers offer a supplementary service and are there to provide motivation to develop a student’s receptivity to learning and help the student acquire a better self-image.

Volunteer co-coordinator, principals and teachers will decide the specific tasks to perform and the information and materials volunteers will need.

Love and respect for each student as a person is a important ingredient in working effectively as a volunteer. Self-esteem and self-confidence are basic to learning. Each child needs to be encouraged to be self confident and that they value themselves.

Teachers are in charge of the instruction and the discipline of each student. The volunteers’ job is to guide and encourage the student along the path the teacher has chosen. The personal interest volunteers show students may be the catalyst that makes them recognize their own worth and their ability to achieve.

Information that the Volunteer receives about the students is privileged, and to be held in the strictest confidence.

Volunteers will support the basic aims of education by:

.. Maintaining consistent and regular attendance.

.. Following all regulations and procedures of the school and the district.

.. Discussing school problems with staff members at appropriate times.

.. Observing discretion in commenting on school matters.

We will follow the chain of command. Please do not go outside of this authority.

The commitment volunteers make to our students is a significant one. As they participate in school activities, volunteers are looked to as role models. Therefore, it is imperative that volunteers conduct themselves in a correct and responsible manner, thereby making the “Partners in Education” program a success.

School Board Rules #4.5011

The Board encourages volunteer participation by individuals and groups in local schools, central and area offices, and supervised off-school activities before, during, and after school hours.

1. Definition: A volunteer is a non-paid person functioning under the sponsorship of the Board and at the direction of the responsible administrator.

2. The Director/Principle shall be responsible for the direction of the program and its compliance with all laws pertaining to volunteers, which shall include the recruitment of volunteers and the evaluation of the program.

3. Registered Volunteers with the school volunteer offices are protected by the Board's General Liability Self-insured program the same as regular employees.

a. All schools shall maintain a Log, which will record names, dates, and hours of service(s) and tasks assigned. All volunteers will sign in and out when volunteering in a school or in a school-related activity.

b. Volunteers shall register and attend mandatory orientation each year.

c. Volunteers must wear an identification badge while on school property.

d. Volunteers will be screened through the TBI

4. Categories.

a. Instructional Volunteers: Provide services to students and staff on a regular basis:

b. Resource Volunteers: Provide curriculum enrichment for students on an occasional basis. Discuss jobs, demonstrate crafts, share collections hobbies with classes, etc.

c. Organization Volunteers: Comprise the school community organizations (PTA, Boosters, School Advisory Committee, Civic Groups, etc.).

e. Tutors for Students: Work with individual students encouraging academic remediation, communication skills, and goal development.

5. Responsibilities.

a. Work within guidelines established by the responsible administrator.

b. Perform any task assigned by their supervisors and approved by the responsible administrators,

excluding access to student cumulative records.

c. Work under the direction and supervision of teachers or other members of the staff.

d. Maintain strict confidentiality with information to which they have access while performing their duties.

e. Be aware of all state and local policies, procedures, and laws relevant to volunteer responsibilities.

Background Checks

A Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) background check (or other authorized background check) is required and will only be required every 3 to 5 years.

All volunteers will be checked annually against the TDLE Sexual Predator/Offenders Registry prior to being

placed in any volunteer position.

Each school site is responsible for requesting and maintaining background checks for its volunteers.

Sign-In and Sign-Out Policy

Each time a volunteer enters a school to volunteer, she or he must sign in, wear a nametag and sign out when she or he is ready to leave the school. Please be sure to see the school secretary so that she will know that you are on the premise.. This requirement is necessary for the following reasons:

1. Safeguarding our students and maintaining campus security is of the utmost importance.

2. School board policy calls for sign in & out procedure.

3. In case of an emergency telephone call, the volunteer can be located.

(Cell phones must be turned off –Board Policy.)

4. While volunteering at school for a specific purpose, individuals are covered by school board insurance provided they have completed a volunteer registration form and have signed in.*

5. Verified volunteer service can be used as work experience for future employment.

6. Individual volunteers that have gone through the program will be recognized for their dedication and service to our schools. The record of volunteer attendance is the basis for consideration for these awards.

7. Each school is recognized for its number of registered volunteer hours.

General Volunteer Procedures

1. Each school year, all volunteers and business partners are required to complete Partners in Education Registration Form #270. Community Resource Volunteers will turn in their registration forms into the school office on the second week of school.

2. Volunteers must always work under the supervision of a district employee, and are never to meet a child alone.

3. Volunteers agree to practice the “No Touch” policy at Gibson County school sites and on school field trips. Praise and encouragement are the approved methods to demonstrate care and respect. A volunteer might pat a child’s hand in a non-threatening manner to reassure a child, if the child seems receptive and in need of a touch.

4. Volunteers must wear an identification badge every time they are at the school.

5. If a volunteer is going to be absent for a scheduled activity, or if a community resource volunteer is unable to speak at the agreed upon time, the volunteer should call the school and ask that the teacher and/or student be informed of his or her absence.

6. Volunteers should be prompt; due to scheduling requirements, it is important to make every minute count.

7. Volunteers are asked to commit to only the time that they can realistically expect to fulfill because teachers

will plan for them, and students will be dependent upon them. Please try to help out at least in 1 hour increments.

8. Once the volunteer receives his/her assignment from the school volunteer coordinator, the volunteer should meet with the teacher sometime when the teacher does not have students in the classroom. This will provide an opportunity to discuss the assignment, learn about procedures, etc. Volunteers should be encouraged to set up additional meetings, if necessary, to get further instructions, discuss a problem, and learn about materials.

9. The teacher is in charge of the classroom at all times and the teacher will provide any discipline that is required.

10. Volunteers are expected to maintain strict confidentiality with information to which they have

access while performing their duties.

11. When they have questions about policies and procedures, volunteers should follow the proper channels within the school, and ask the appropriate person: the teacher, the principal or the school volunteer coordinator.

12. Parents are not placed in their child’s classroom on a regular basis unless ok’ed by Principle.

Volunteer Program Job Descriptions

School Start Up – Assists in helping teachers to get classrooms ready. Help in the first couple of days when school starts. There will be other things that apply to this.

School Improvement Committee – A committee comprised of school staff, parents, and community representatives. Members are actively involved with school calendars, curriculum, school improvements, safety and other concerns.

Fall and Spring Student Photographs – Help is needed in getting children prepared for their pictures, such as brushing hair, making sure mouths are cleaned, informing the teacher when it is the classes time to go, etc.

Safety Monitors – Volunteers might be needed to monitor student behavior on the way to and from school. (Bikers, Walkers, Etc.) Also, help in starting a safety patrol.

Speakers of Other Languages Volunteer – Assists in establishing effective written and oral communication among limited and non-English speaking students, parents, and school personnel.

Tutor – Works with a student or students on an individual or small group basis for approximately one hour per week. Assists in academic reinforcement, goal development, and serves as a role model to students who may have been identified as at-risk.

Green Team – Assists in helping keep the school grounds in good shape during the year. Such as planting flowers, trimming hedges, trimming around the buildings, etc, beautifying the grounds, keeping trash picked up inside and out.

Library Volunteer - Works under the supervision of the Librarian. Shelving, filing, clipping, circulating, and book processing are some of the tasks that may be performed.

Playground Helpers- Volunteers to help during recess time. There has to be a least one certified teacher on the playground.

Community Resource Volunteer … Provides special demonstrations, tasks or instruction on a variety of topics including careers, hobbies, travel or interests that enrich and extend student awareness and knowledge.

Cafeteria Helper ,,,Helps with the supervision and the caring of children in the cafeteria during meal time.

Hospitality – Greets students in the morning as they are coming into the school and in the afternoon when they are being picked up.

COPY

SCHOOL YEAR: __________ FORM #270

SCHOOL: ______________

KEEP ‘N TRACK #: _______

GIBSON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT

SCHOOL VOLUNTEER REGISTRATION FORM

COMPLETION OF THIS FORM IS REQUIRED TO VOLUNTEER IN THE GIBSON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT

MS. MALE

MRS. __________________________________________________________________FEMALE _____________________________________

MR. LAST NAME FIRST NAME MIDDLE INITIAL MAIDEN NAME SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

STREET ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP CODE HOW LONG?

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

MAILING ADDRESS (IF DIFFERENT FROM ABOVE) CITY STATE ZIP CODE

_______________________ _____________________________ _______________

HOME PHONE / WORK PHONE EMAIL ADDRESS DATE OF BIRTH

ETHNIC ORIGIN: ___ AFRICAN AMERICAN/BLACK AGE GROUP: ___ AGE 20 AND UNDER

___ AMERICAN INDIAN/ALASKAN NATIVE ___ AGE 21 TO 61

___ ASIAN/PACIFIC ISLANDER ___ HISPANIC ___ AGE 62+

___ CAUCASIAN/WHITE ___ OTHER

HEALTH RESTRICTIONS, IF ANY: _____________________________________________________________________________________

EMERGENCY CONTACT AND PHONE: __________________________________________________________________________________

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN ARRESTED? ___ YES ___ NO IF YES, PLEASE EXPLAIN __________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___ I WANT TO BE RECOGNIZED AS A BUSINESS PARTNER. PLEASE CONTACT ME AT ___________________________________________

___ YES, I CURRENTLY VOLUNTEER AT ANOTHER SCHOOL IN THE GIBSON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT. WHICH SCHOOL(S)? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I WOULD LIKE TO VOLUNTEER IN THE FOLLOWING SETTING(S), AND UNDERSTAND THAT A BACKGROUND CHECK MAY BE REQUIRED TO DO SO.

___ ONE-ON-ONE ___ SMALL GROUP ___ NOT DIRECTLY WITH STUDENTS ___ CHAPERONE SCHOOL-SPONSORED TRIPS

AS A VOLUNTEER, I AGREE TO ABIDE BY THE RULES AND POLICIES OF THE GIBSON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD AND TENNESSEE STATE LAWS, INCLUDING SUNSHINE AND PUBLIC RECORDS LAWS. I HAVE RECEIVED, READ, AND UNDERSTAND SCHOOL BOARD RULE #4.5011 SCHOOL VOLUNTEER PROGRAM AND I AGREE TO ABIDE ALL PROVISIONS OF THAT RULE, INCLUDING THE REQUIREMENT THAT I MAINTAIN STRICT CONFIDENTIALITY WITH INFORMATION TO WHICH I HAVE ACCESS WHILE PERFORMING MY DUTIES. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT ALL PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION REGARDING STUDENTS IS CONFIDENTIAL AND THAT I MAY NOT DISCLOSE OR DISCUSS ANY SUCH INFORMATION EXCEPT TO OR WITH THE TEACHER. I HEREBY AUTHORIZE THE GIBSON COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD TO UNDERTAKE A BACKGROUND CHECK WITH THE TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMT, THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, THE TENNESSEE CRIMES INFORMATION TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORK, THE NATIONAL CRIME INFORMATION CENTER, AND/OR ANY REGISTRY OF INFORMATION MAINTAINED REGARDING ABANDONMENT, ABUSE, OR NEGLECT TO WHICH THE SCHOOL BOARD HAS ACCESS. MY SIGNATURE ON THIS FORM IS DEEMED TO CONSTITUTE CONSENT AND NOTIFICATION THAT A BACKGROUND CHECK OR SEARCH MAY BE CONDUCTED AS AUTHORIZED ABOVE.

X ______________________________________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT’S SIGNTURE REQUIRED TO VOLUNTEER DATE

STUDENT VOLUNTEERS: GRADE________ CLUB OR ACTIVITY__________________________

NAMES/GRADES OF CHILDREN IN SCHOOL

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

FOR OFFICE USE:

VOLUNTEER PLACEMENT(S) __________________________________________________________

BACKGROUND CHECK COMPLETED ___________________________________________________

COMMENTS ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

School Year:_____ FORM #271

School:______

Keep n Track: _____

Gibson County Special School District

Volunteer Interest Sheets

Please complete the information below.

Please print legibly!!

NAME:____________________________________________________________________

Phone: Home __________________ Work ________________ Cell __________________

911 Address_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

City State Zip Code

Mailing Address ______________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

City State Zip Code

Email Address __________________________________

Students(s) Name:___________________________Grade__________Teacher_________________

Name:___________________________Grade__________Teacher_________________

The following areas need volunteer help throughout the school year. Please refer to the Volunteer Job Description Sheets for more detailed explanations about each of the following volunteer opportunities. (Please note that these could change during the year and on a yearly basis.) Please check the area(s) in which you are interested. Please only check the areas to which you can commit. You will be contacted within a couple of weeks as to what your schedule will be and when you will start.

____School Start up

____School Improvement Team

____Reflections Program

____Fall & Spring Student Photographs

____Cafeteria Please select day(s) and time(s) you can work.

Mon____ Tues____ Wed____ Thurs____ Fri____ Breakfast_________ Lunch_______

____Computers Please select day(s) and time(s) you can work.