This is the first year that we have tried tracking volunteer hours, we still have problems with people signing in on the volunteer sheet for fieldtrips and helping at classroom parties. Right now our school volunteers have logged over 1700.That doesn't count fundraising hours or time that people put in at home doing staff appreciation stuff, cutting, etc. it is only school time! next year we hope to educate more an ddouble our hours.
Volunteer hours means grant $$ for us, I figure it does for most schools. We have two volunteers that put in 60+ hours per month that are not parents. It's been awhile since I had access to any info but we do have several moms that put in 20+ hours per month. When I was pres we had about 11 faithful volunteers give or take and several that would take on different tasks.
One of our volunteers is through the Foster Grandparent program (through a Community Action Organization). She does get paid but not by the school. She is considered a volunteer for the school because she helps in classrooms, but it is her choice to be at our school. There was much discussion on that. When I was in charge of recognizing volunteers and staff I wanted to make sure I was recognizing her for the right thing. We have had more than one foster grandparent.
Last year we had about 70 volunteers and logged over 3700 hours! It really depends on the type of volunteers you have(retired folks who may be able to come and spend 2 or 3 hours or working moms who may have only an hour a week to give). What hours you count can make a difference too. Are you only counting direct classroom hours or will you include hours given to work events during the school day?
We have volunteers from some local agencies (around 50) that come in to read to children. I think there are about 5 retired volunteers who work one on one with a few children and then there are a handful of parents. Total this year they have logged around 800 hours so far so probably close to 1000 before school is out.
The irony of commitment is that it’s deeply liberating-in work, in play, in love. The act frees you from the tyranny of your internal critic, from the fear that likes to dress itself up and parade around as rational hesitation. To commit is to remove your head as the barrier to your life. --Anne Morris
