BVSD implemented a new policy regarding its volunteers last Jan & it received some media coverage, but now that it’s fully in place, we are beginning to see and feel the effects.
Yes, we want to protect our children: the recent alleged crimes at Penn State are a stark reminder of why these policies were put into effect.
However, the communication and implementation of these rules has been inadequate and insufficient.
If you volunteer in the classroom, fieldtrip, or certain other events you are required to receive a background check, at the cost of $16/year from the company the district has contracted with. (There has been no information on why the district chose this company.)
$16/year for K-12 = $208.
If you get fingerprinted & receive a background check from CBI, it costs $39.50 – one time, and is good for as long as you live in the state. Yet the district didn’t inform volunteers of this option. Some schools know of this option, others don’t.
If you want to drive students on a school event, you must pay $22.50 for a motor vehicle background check. The “regular” background check is included in this fee, however, if you’ve already paid for a background check, you still must pay the full $22.50. This is also a yearly fee (total for 13 years: $292.50).
The company the school has chosen to do these background checks stands to make quite a bit of money over the next several years.
The district doesn’t seem to know if a motor vehicle check is required for BVSD employees (all of whom were required to be fingerprinted/background checked this year, if they hadn’t been already), or volunteers who have a background check done by the CBI. Calls and e-mails to the HR dept go unanswered, and different schools are telling volunteers different things.
The schools have said they will pay for the fees: Are you really ok with schools spending $208 instead of $39.50 per volunteer? And then additionally paying up to $292.50 so a volunteer/employee can drive his/her kid and a few others to events? This is how we want our tax dollars or donations to schools spent?
Why is there no clear communication from the district, about state background checks or other, cheaper options?
Where is the option of “carpool” versus “need a motor vehicle background check to drive 3-5 kids 5-10 miles for an event”?
This policy has delayed volunteers from going into the classroom. I used to help recruit and organize between 20-50 volunteers to go into the classrooms to help the teachers. I would not attempt to do that today with all of this red tape. I’ve spent more time trying to figure out the rules for the 10 volunteers that I now organize, than I ever did with the larger group.
This policy has taken time and money to implement, it has been implemented poorly, and it has been implemented differently at different schools.
BVSD schools, children and the community deserve better than this.
Kate Huth
Lafayette
Excellent post at Kate Huth: BVSD has failed its volunteers and community | Daily Camera: Letters to the Editor. I was checking constantly this blog and I’m impressed! Very useful info specially the last part
I care for such information a lot. I was looking for this certain info for a very long time. Thank you and good luck.
you’re truly a just right webmaster. The web site loading pace is incredible. It seems that you are doing any unique trick. Furthermore, The contents are masterwork. you have performed a great job in this matter!
I’ve been surfing online more than 3 hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours Kate Huth: BVSD has failed its volunteers and community | Daily Camera: Letters to the Editor. It is pretty worth enough for me. In my opinion, if all web owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the internet will be a lot more useful than ever before.
Kate Huth: BVSD has failed its volunteers and community | Daily Camera: Letters to the Editor I was recommended this web site by my cousin. I’m not sure whether this post is written by him as no one else know such detailed about my difficulty. You are wonderful! Thanks! your article about Kate Huth: BVSD has failed its volunteers and community | Daily Camera: Letters to the EditorBest Regards Cindy
I used to be a lot more than pleased to seek out this internet-site.. I dont even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was excellent. A lot much more A rise in Agreeable.
Kate Huth: BVSD has failed its volunteers and community | Daily Camera: Letters to the Editor I was recommended this website by my cousin. I am not sure whether this post is written by him as no one else know such detailed about my difficulty. You are wonderful! Thanks! your article about Kate Huth: BVSD has failed its volunteers and community | Daily Camera: Letters to the EditorBest Regards Craig
Attractive section of content. I just stumbled upon your web site and in accession capital to assert that I get actually enjoyed account your blog posts. Any way I will be subscribing to your feeds and even I achievement you access consistently quickly.
You’ve made some decent points there. I looked on the net for more information about the issue and found most individuals will go along with your views on this web site.
Pingback: search engine placement marketing
I’m amazed, I have to admit. Seldom do I come across a blog that’s both equally educative and interesting, and let me tell you, you’ve hit the nail on the head. The problem is something that not enough people are speaking intelligently about. I’m very happy that I came across this in my hunt for something regarding this.