Volunteers having direct contact with students at Gateway School District schools soon will be required to have criminal background checks and child abuse clearances.
The district's current policy, adopted in 1994, requires only that volunteers have Act 34 Criminal History Report before beginning work with students. The district reimburses the fees required to obtain that report.
But apparently that hasn't been common knowledge.
Christina Miller, parent of two district students and a volunteer at Moss Side Elementary School, said the district has been lax on its enforcement of the policy and has had different procedures school-to-school. She said volunteers at Ramsey Elementary School, for example, were required to have both clearances but volunteers at Moss Side were not required to have either.
"There has to be equal standards," said Miller, who first brought the issue to the Gateway School Board last year when his son got lost while in the custody of a volunteer and again in September. "What is the policy⢠If there is a policy, it should be adhered to by all buildings, districtwide.
"I have my clearances because my child went to Ramsey Elementary in kindergarten and I volunteered for them. Because Ramsey required volunteers to have clearances, I made the assumption that Moss Side Elementary required it also."
Miller suggested the board review its volunteer policy and adopt a new policy or draft a resolution that would be consistent in all the schools and assure that those working with the students don't have a history of criminal activity and child abuse.
Assistant Superintendent Susan Palfy said the district is in the process of reviewing and updating all of its policies. The volunteer policy could be one of the next ones to be changed and could bring consistency across the district.
Palfy, who met with all of the district's principals about a solution, said a policy committee meeting is scheduled for Nov. 11 and the volunteer policy is one that is on the agenda for discussion.
"We do have a policy that's outdated," said Palfy, who is working on a draft to present to the policy committee. "One way or another, we have to update our policies."
Other school districts such as Penn Hills and Plum school districts also require volunteers to have criminal background checks and child abuses clearances. Plum Spokeswoman Dawn Lynn Check said there are exceptions for parents that might volunteer on a one-time basis, such as a book fair, but not if they have direct contact with children or are alone with children.
Palfy also said that practices and policies have to be consistent and have the same goals in mind.
"Procedures aren't a part of policy," she said. "Practices are implemented on our own."
Barb English, president of the Moss Side parent-teacher organization, said there hasn't been a problem with volunteers not having clearances in the past. But those who have worked closely with students, or who are in the school on a regular basis, have been encouraged to have their clearances.
"Each school has done their own thing," said English, who has both clearances because she works alone with students as part of the drug task force. "I never had a written policy passed down to me. But the administration and the building principals are working on one."
Palfy hopes the change doesn't hurt volunteerism.
"Volunteerism is good in the district," she said. "We want to continue to have them involved. We really hope that we aren't discouraging anyone from participating. But I think they understand that the focus is on the safety of the students."
