Guidelines for Volunteer Services at First Baptist School of Charleston, SC
Definition
A volunteer is anyone involved in a school-sponsored activity, an overnight or out-of-town school-sponsored activity involving minors, counseling of minors, or one-on-one mentoring of minors.
There are two levels of volunteers:
Level I: Individuals who volunteer in a classroom or with a group of children only once or twice a year as a parent helper.
Level II: Individuals who are involved with overnight or out-of-town school-sponsored activities, activities that involve one-on-one situations with students, or who will be driving students to activities off campus.
Guidelines
All volunteers must be associated with First Baptist School for a period of six months prior to supervising any school activities.
Level I volunteers are required to complete and sign a Level I Volunteer Policy form that will be kept in a confidential file at the school.
Level II volunteers are required to complete and sign a Level II Volunteer Policy form that gives permission for the school to complete a nationwide criminal and reference check.
Policy for those Supervising Out-of-Town and Overnight School-Related Activities
Purpose
It is the purpose of the administration, faculty, and staff of First Baptist School to provide a safe and secure environment for all students.
Scope
This policy shall apply to all current and future administration, faculty, staff, and volunteers who will have the responsibility of supervising the activities of the students of First Baptist School.
General Policies
All out-of-town and overnight school-related activities will be supervised by at least two adults or a ratio of one adult to every nine students.
Permission and medical forms must be in the possession of a school employee traveling on the trip at all times.
A door without a window will remain open when an adult is alone with a student.
Sleeping arrangements will not include an adult with a student unless the student is the adult’s own child.
Professional dress, appropriate for the occasion, is required.
Smoking or using tobacco products in the presence of students is prohibited.
Using, possessing, or being under the influence of alcohol or illegal substances will not be tolerated.
The use of profanity is not acceptable.
School personnel and volunteers will:
Portray a positive role model for students by maintaining an attitude of respect, loyalty, patience, courtesy, and maturity.
Be expected to act and react with Christian love and understanding in all situations.
Avoid any situation in which one is alone with a minor other than their own.
School personnel and volunteers will be aware of, avoid, and report as required the following:
Any direct observations, evidence, display or demonstration of sexual activity, abuse, insinuation of abuse, or evidence of abusive conduct towards a minor;
Infliction or physically abusive behavior or bodily injury to a minor;
Physical neglect of a minor, including failure to provide adequate supervision in relation to the activities of First Baptist School;
Mental or emotional injury to a minor;
The presence or possession of obscene or pornographic materials at any function of First Baptist School.
The presence, possession, or being under the influence of alcohol or any illegal substances while leading or participating in a function for minors at First Baptist School.
Policy for School Personnel and Volunteers While Working with Individual Students
All school personnel and volunteers who may be working with students on a one-on-one basis should follow the guidelines listed below.
Schedule sessions during the school day, if possible.
When scheduling sessions on campus after school hours, notify the appropriate office of the time and location of the session so that an administrator or other school personnel is available on campus during the session.
Schedule a group session, rather than an individual session, when possible.
Sessions should be scheduled in a location where there is traffic and not isolated.
Doors, without windows, should remain open.
Sessions should be visible from the door.
Professional behavior is expected during the session.
No student is to be left alone at the school. School personnel should remain with the student until the appropriate person arrives to pick up the child.
Any one-on-one activity off campus is discouraged. Any one-on-one activity must be contracted in writing between the school employee and the parent/guardian.