New two-tiered KCSD volunteer system in effect Feb. 1
January 24, 2012

 
Volunteer Application Information

Starting Feb. 1, volunteers in the Kershaw County School District will undergo a revised application process that divides persons into two levels depending upon possible unsupervised interaction with students.

“Volunteers are extremely important in our schools, and we greatly value their efforts,” said Kershaw County School District Superintendent Frank Morgan. “This new two-tiered system is part of our ongoing efforts to provide safe school environments and will provide additional beneficial information on persons who interact with our students.”

In the past, volunteers have completed applications and been screened through a free online National Sex Offenders Registry. That procedure will still continue for Level One volunteers or those persons who have interaction with students while under the supervision of a KCSD employee. This would include such activities as being a classroom speaker, field day volunteer or PTO member.

Starting Feb. 1, any volunteer who possibly will be interacting with students without the direct supervision of a KCSD employee - such as persons who chaperone field trips - will have to present evidence of a completed SLED check within the last 12 months or pay the required $25 to process a SLED check along with a completed KCSD volunteer application.

The school district had initially begun implementation of this new volunteer procedure at the beginning of the school year but Morgan said that it was put on hold after there appeared to be confusion on the subject. “There were rumors in the community about persons having to have a SLED check to bring cupcakes into a classroom, which was not the case. We decided to bring in a committee comprised of school personnel and parents to help us work through the process, particularly with the communication efforts. I feel good about the new procedures.”

Morgan said that volunteer approval is good for two years. “Persons need to complete a new volunteer application every two years in order to stay on the districtwide approved volunteer list, regardless of whether they are a Level One or Level Two volunteer.” Persons who are approved now will remain on the volunteer list until the end of the 2013-14 school year.

Current employees do not have to complete Level two applications since they complete SLED checks upon being hired and are required by Board policy to report an arrest or charge related to a criminal offense to the District within five calendar days of the incident.

More information and a copy of the volunteer application can be found on our website at www.kershaw.k12.sc.us. If you have any questions, please feel free to talk with your school principal or call our Recruitment/Professional Development Director Dr. John Gardner at 432-8416.  

For more information: Mary Anne Byrd, 432-8416 ext. 1229