Mechanicsburg Area School District. Volunteer Handbook. 100 E. Elmwood Avenue 2 nd Floor

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1 Mechanicsburg Area School District Volunteer Handbook Mechanicsburg Area SD 100 E. Elmwood Avenue 2 nd Floor Mechanicsburg, PA Phone: Fax: Website:

2 Mechanicsburg Area School District Volunteer Handbook We encourage the Mechanicsburg Area School District community to participate in the education of our students by sharing their time and talents in the classroom, helping staff behind the scenes and becoming involved in various school activities. It is a proven fact that volunteering greatly benefits our students. Your presence at school sends a message to our students that you care about their education. How do I become a volunteer? The following checklist has been created for you as you prepare to serve as a volunteer. We respectfully request that you compile the required information and submit it together, at the same time (this alleviates any confusion in tracking down the required information). You may submit your information packet at any district building, and you may also submit it to the district office. Your signature on the Volunteer Information Sheet acknowledges that you have read the volunteer handbook and will abide by the policies and guidelines outlined in the MASD Volunteer Handbook. It also affirms that you have viewed the Mandated Reporter training video, have read Board Policy 806 (Child Abuse) and Board Policy 916 (Volunteers), and that you are in agreement with the district s guidelines and will be diligent in following them. The Mandated Reporter training video and Policies 806 & 916 may be found at Volunteer Information Packet Checklist 1. Completed Volunteer Information Sheet (page 7 of this document) 2. Evidence of a tuberculosis examination in accordance with the regulations of the Advisory Health Board. 3. Pennsylvania State Police Request for Criminal Check 4. FBI background check (Act 34 of 1985, 24 P.S (e)) NOTE: The FBI background check is not required if you have been a resident of PA for the entirety of the previous 10 years or if you have obtained a FBI clearance at any time since establishing residency in PA. If you meet these criteria, a volunteer verification form (page 9 of this document) is required in lieu of the FBI clearance. 5. Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance (Act 151 of 1994, 23 Pa. C.S. 6355). 2 P a g e

3 Guidelines & Information for You as a Volunteer: The individual classroom teachers schedule volunteers for their classroom. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the teacher directly. Younger siblings are not permitted at the school while volunteering. All volunteers must sign in and out at the main office and wear a visitor identification badge at all times. Cell phones must be turned off while in the building. Please respect the teaching/learning process by not using your time at school for an informal parentteacher conference. If you have a child in the school and wish to speak to the teacher about his/her progress, please make other arrangements. Be open and honest in your communications to the staff and administration. If you feel problems exist, help us to identify them by communicating with us. Please understand that we cannot discuss other students with you due to confidentiality issues. As a volunteer, you are not expected to administer discipline to children. If a child is disruptive, seek assistance from the teacher or the principal. As a volunteer, you are a mandated reporter. If you suspect that a child is being/has been abused, you must report it to ChildLine immediately, notify the principal of the building and work with him/her (or his/her designee) to submit the written form. What we expect of our volunteers: 1. We expect that our volunteers be willing to work under the direction of the teacher or the principal. 2. We expect that our volunteers be dependable. 3. We expect that our volunteers have a sincere desire to help and work with children. 4. We expect that our volunteers model professional behavior. 3 P a g e

4 Suggested Duties and Responsibilities for You as a Volunteer: 1. Assist teachers with daily classroom tasks. 2. Provide reinforcement of lessons with follow-up activities, working with small groups and individual children. 3. Develop motivational material. 4. Listen to children read orally. 5. Prepare visual aids to be used with various lessons. 6. Work with individual children on a one-to-one basis under the direction of the classroom teacher. 7. Meet with the teacher regularly for the purpose of reviewing classroom activities, planning future activities, and obtaining feedback and suggestions from the teacher. 8. Assist with chaperoning field trips or other special activities. 9. Follow the directives or instructions of teachers/administrators. 10. Perform other duties as mutually agreed upon. CONFIDENTIALITY cannot be stressed enough. You may observe incidents that occur while you are volunteering. These incidents may not be discussed. The personalities of the students or faculty should remain within the school. Additionally, discussing specifics in conversation or social media is strictly forbidden. 4 P a g e

5 Emergency Operations: Volunteers are required to participate in all emergency drills and follow the direction of the classroom teacher. Volunteers are expected to be familiar with the basic emergency guidelines outlined in the following table and the location of emergency exits and equipment. In the event of a true emergency, volunteers shall stay with the class and follow the direction of the classroom teacher. Any questions should be directed to the classroom teacher or the building principal. MASD Emergency Plans Quick Reference (see the specific building handbook for additional details and evacuation/relocation routes) Fire Evacuation Code Blue Severe Weather Emergency Secure in Place Lockdown If the fire alarm sounds, prepare students to evacuate and await instructions via the public address system. Do not evacuate until instructed to do so by school officials. If there is an incident where the students are in immediate danger, then evacuate immediately. Confirm the emergency with the office if possible Evacuate when instructed by following the appropriate evacuation routes as indicated on signage in the location or in the Faculty Handbook. Follow alternate evacuation routes as necessary. Complete an Emergency Accountability Form and submit it to the command post ASAP. If you discover a person who is not breathing, has no pulse, or is choking, call the office. Say that it is a Code Blue, name the medical emergency, and give your exact location. Remain with the victim. In the event of a medical emergency, an announcement will be made for a Code Blue in a given location. All students should remain in place until instructed otherwise. Other classes continue with instruction to the fullest extent possible. Teachers should assist in clearing hallways by relocating students into the closest supervised classrooms. Teachers located next to Code Blue team members will provide coverage for their students as necessary Weather emergencies will be announced via the public address system. In the event of severe weather, students and staff will be instructed, via announcement, to report to areas of the building on the first floor that are relatively safe and free from glass. Designated relocation areas are indicated in the Faculty Handbook. Students and staff should avoid doors, and windows while relocating. Students and staff may be instructed to get into a take cover position kneeling facing down and head covered with hands behind. Complete an Emergency Accountability Form and submit it to the command post ASAP. Staff and students should remain in their locations until instructed otherwise. Continue with instruction to the fullest extent possible. Teachers should assist in clearing hallways by relocating students into the closest supervised classrooms. Students are not permitted to leave without administrative permission. Keep all students away from doors and windows - students should not be out of their seats attempting to see what is going on in the hallways. Take attendance and note the names of any additional students under your care during the emergency. Lock all doors providing access to your location. Teachers should assist in clearing hallways by relocating students into the closest supervised classrooms. Turn off all lights. Move all students out of sight from the viewpoint of the hallway. Do NOT close window blinds. Be quiet and still. Remain in secured position until a school official or police inform you otherwise. If the fire alarm sounds, stay put do not leave the room. Complete an Emergency Accountability Form and submit it to the command post ASAP following the emergency. 5 P a g e

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7 Mechanicsburg Area School District Volunteer Information Sheet (to be returned to any district building office) Please Print or Type Name Last First Middle Address ( ) Street Telephone City State Zip Code Address Building(s) in which you plan to volunteer Name(s) of teacher(s) for whom you plan to volunteer Print Student s Name(s) and Grade(s) if applicable By signing below I acknowledge that I have read the volunteer handbook and I will abide by the policies and guidelines outlined in the MASD Volunteer Handbook. I have viewed the Mandated Reporter training video, and I have read Board Policies 806 (Child Abuse) and Board Policy 916 (Volunteers). I am in agreement with the district s guidelines and will be diligent in following them. Volunteer s Signature Date As part of the volunteer information packet, the following must be submitted with the volunteer information sheet: Evidence of a tuberculosis examination in accordance with the regulations of the Advisory Health Board. Pennsylvania State Police Request for Criminal Check* FBI background check* (Act 34 of 1985, 24 P.S (e) NOTE: The FBI background check is not required if the volunteer has been a resident of PA for the entirety of the previous 10 years or has obtained a FBI clearance at any time since establishing residency in PA and completes a volunteer verification form (page 9 of this document). Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance* (Act 151 of 1994, 23 Pa. C.S. 6355). *All clearances are valid for 5 years from the date of issuance and must be renewed pursuant to law. 7 P a g e

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9 Mechanicsburg Area School District Volunteer Verification for exemption from FBI Federal Criminal History Clearance The Child Protective Services Law requires all volunteers to complete three clearances, including the FBI Federal Criminal History Clearance. However, the Law includes two exceptions which, if applicable, will exempt a prospective volunteer from the FBI clearance: (1) the prospective volunteer has been a resident of Pennsylvania during the entirety of the previous ten-year period; or (2) if not a resident of Pennsylvania during the entirety of the ten-year period, the prospective volunteer has received an FBI clearance at any time since establishing residency in Pennsylvania and provides a copy of the FBI clearance. If you do not meet either of these exceptions, this Verification form does not apply to you. If properly completed, this Verification form will excuse eligible volunteers from the FBI Federal Criminal History Clearance. If you have any questions about this Verification or your eligibility, you must contact the Superintendent before submitting the Form. Select 1 or 2 below: 1. I swear and affirm that I have been a resident of Pennsylvania during the entirety of the previous ten-year period; or 2. I swear and affirm that I have received an FBI clearance since establishing residency in Pennsylvania, and I will provide a copy of the FBI clearance before volunteering. I swear and affirm that: 1. I have never been named in the statewide database as the perpetrator of a founded report of child abuse committed within the last five (5) years. 2. I have never been arrested or convicted of the following offenses under the Pennsylvania Crimes Code or an equivalent crime under the laws or former laws of the United States or one of its territories or possessions, another state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or a foreign nation, or under a former law of this Commonwealth: Chapter 25 (relating to criminal homicide). Section 2702 (relating to aggravated assault). Section (relating to stalking). Section 2901 (relating to kidnapping). Section 2902 (relating to unlawful restraint). Section 3121 (relating to rape). Section 3123 (relating to involuntary deviate sexual intercourse). Section (relating to statutory sexual assault). Sexual (relating to sexual assault). Section 3125 (relating to aggravated indecent assault). Section 3126 (relating to indecent assault). Section 3127 (relating to indecent exposure). Section 4302 (relating to incest). Section 4303 (relating to concealing death of child). Section 4304 (relating to endangering welfare of children). Section 4305 (relating to dealing in infant children). A felony offense under section 5902(b) (relating to prostitution and related offenses). Section 5903(c) or (d) (relating to obscene and other sexual materials and performances). Section 6301 (relating to corruption of minors). Section 6312 (relating to sexual abuse of children). The attempt, solicitation or conspiracy to commit any of the offenses set forth above. A felony offense under the Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act, committed within the five-year period immediately preceding verification. I make this statement and submit this Verification under penalty of perjury as more fully set forth in 18 Pa. C.S Prospective Volunteer Name (Printed) Prospective Volunteer Name (Signed) Date 9 P a g e