Volunteering at school

[Anonymous]

What are your thoughts on the new FCPS requirement for background checks for volunteers who participate more than once a year?

[Anonymous]

Ugh good grief but I didn't know about it

[Anonymous]

My schools have not said anything about this.

That said I think it is dumb as most volunteer roles are for sites with many other people around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What are your thoughts on the new FCPS requirement for background checks for volunteers who participate more than once a year?

Do the volunteers have to pay for it? Will they have to get it every year?

What does it check for?

[Anonymous]

We’re at a MD private school, and we have this requirement for being alone one on one with kids. Not like, if you and a bunch of moms are doing a class Halloween party.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We’re at a MD private school, and we have this requirement for being alone one on one with kids. Not like, if you and a bunch of moms are doing a class Halloween party.

Same at our FCPS high school. Volunteers in band uniforms or theater backstage small settings are badged

[Anonymous]

All for it. I don’t want any weirdos coming into the schools.

[Anonymous]

I have to take an hour to complete their survey, then take off work to drive an hour to get fingerprinted, so I can volunteer with Dr Reid’s security detail monitoring my every move. Count me out. If fcps doesn’t want volunteers, they could have just said so. I guess the reduced number of teachers have time to do all the stuff volunteers have done for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All for it. I don’t want any weirdos coming into the schools.

Last I checked, it’s been teachers and staff with questionable behavior. Not kids’ parents stuffing folders or putting library books away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are your thoughts on the new FCPS requirement for background checks for volunteers who participate more than once a year?

Do the volunteers have to pay for it? Will they have to get it every year?

What does it check for?

FCPS is supposed to pay for this. Fingerprints, criminal record etc

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My schools have not said anything about this.

That said I think it is dumb as most volunteer roles are for sites with many other people around.

It was in todays FCPS email

[Anonymous]

It’s going to be a big, big problem, and they are going to need to walk this one back. No way are people going to take time off of work in order to get fingerprinted at Gatehouse just to be able to volunteer twice or go on a field trip. Probably well intentioned but extremely short-sighted.

[Anonymous]

I think it’s a good idea. Not all parents are safe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s going to be a big, big problem, and they are going to need to walk this one back. No way are people going to take time off of work in order to get fingerprinted at Gatehouse just to be able to volunteer twice or go on a field trip. Probably well intentioned but extremely short-sighted.

It is a potentially huge impediment to getting volunteers. It’s also something that I think is needed for many volunteering roles.

[Anonymous]

Also misses the whole genre of volunteering with no direct contact with students