Our school district requires background checks for ALL employees and volunteers. If a volunteer is discouraged by this, perhaps it's best they stay away from children, money, etc. All returns are confidential. When I was pres I worried about some. The Principal said it was at her discretion if they had a blemish on their record. She would have no problem letting a person who got a ticket for expired tags volunteer(it happens! )but a person with a drug or violent record she would not allow to volunteer. She would handle informing the volunteer.
Our school district actually does this, not our PTA. At the beginning of the year, a volunteer background check form is sent to all parents; they are required to complete these forms prior to volunteering at the school for anything. They are submitted to the county, and a copy is kept at school. We as a PTA send out notices to people who have offered to volunteer but have not sent in a background check form, but we don't have anything to do with the check itself.
I looked and didn't see any recent posts on the debate of whether Parent groups need to conduct background checks on their volunteers.
I'm not talking about school employees I'm mostly concerned with Mrs. Jones who wants to work the raffle basket booth at the the carnival.
Does NPN insurance require volunteers have background checks? And while we are on the subject does anyone out there use a volunteer log for events. Like having each volunteer sign in when it is their turn for an event etc.? Is that required by NPN insurance?
My dear husband has just finished creating a 5 year strategic plan for our PTO and included verbage to that effect. Currently we don't require background checks because we don't want to discourage volunteers AND we can't afford it.
)but a person with a drug or violent record she would not allow to volunteer. She would handle informing the volunteer.