Orangeville CUSD #203 would welcome your presence as volunteers in our school!

We value the positive impact that parents and community members can have on the lives of students, and we we would love for you to volunteer your time in our building. The children benefit from seeing adults actively engaged in their schools, and we think that you will be rewarded by the experience as well.

Volunteer opportunities can include:

• Being a chaperone on a school-sponsored field trip

• Reading to a class, or working with a group of students on a project

• Tutoring students before or after school

• Providing assistance at lunch or recess

• Helping with a school event

How to become a volunteer:

1. Contact either office (elementary or jr./sr. high) and express your interest in becoming a volunteer. We will take your name and contact information.

2. Contact the Stephenson County Jail at 815-235-8254 and make an appointment for fingerprinting to complete a background check. This is at your cost. However, once done, this is good for 5 years. Let them know that you would like this sent to Orangeville School District.

3. Once your background check is received by our district office, it will be reviewed and you will be contacted.

4. If approved, you will need to come in to the school and view two videos and sign the log to be finalized so that we can add you to the list of approved volunteers.

August 28, 2023

To Whom it May Concern:

In accordance with Illinois School Law regarding student safety, Orangeville School District #203 will conduct the following checks for all persons working with children on school grounds and/or at school functions, including serving as field trip chaperones prior to allowing the individuals to be on school grounds on a regular basis. The Adam Walsh Child and Protection Safety Act of 2006 grants access to public schools to conduct national background checks on nonemployees (i.e., volunteers and chaperones).

Beginning in the 2023-2024 school year, the background check will include, but not be limited to, a

1. A fingerprint-based check of criminal history through the Illinois State Police and FBI, a background check for the Illinois Sex Offender Registry and check of Illinois Child Murderer and Violent Offender against Youth Registry as well as any concerning information from the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS).

IMPORTANT: ALL background checks must be received and approved by the district superintendent prior to the individual being allowed to work with children on school grounds on a regular basis. There is a required one-time fee (currently $28.25) assessed by Stephenson County Jail located at 1680 Singer Drive Freeport, IL to the individual and subject to change. Please contact either school office for more information. Unfortunately, another background check with another school or company does not suffice because the Orangeville School District unique identifier is needed.

2. All visitors must sign-in and sign-out in the school office upon arrival and departure to any school building and/or school event in which he/she is serving as a volunteer. A picture ID will be required to be presented for identification purposes (i.e. a driver’s license) upon check-in. Visitors are not to disrupt the educational atmosphere during their time as a volunteer in the school-setting and must receive administrator approval to be on school grounds.

a. In order to volunteer for a school function (i.e. coaching, attending field trips with students, work/help in the classrooms, etc.), individuals should watch two videos, one short video on family and student privacy (3 minutes : https://studentprivacy.ed.gov/training/school-volunteers-and-ferpa ) and one video on Bloodborne Pathogens (13 minutes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8zP-by6RbU ) to be prepared to volunteer in schools. Once completed, the training is valid for five years.

b. Pursuant to Public Act 101-0531, all persons or firms having direct, daily contact with any school district will be subject to the provisions set forth as well.

c. In addition, School Board Policy 8:30 states that a building principal or his/her designee has the authority to remove any persons from the building and school grounds. Refusal to comply will result in the police being called immediately.

Please know that we most definitely appreciate volunteers in the school district; however, it is also the duty of the school district to keep all students and staff safe. If you should have any further questions and/or concerns, please contact the school. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding regarding school safety.

Sincerely,

Julie Katzenberger, Superintendent

All volunteers will need to view the videos below and sign a log at the school that they have viewed them. You will need to sign and date the log to confirm you have viewed the videos before your approval to volunteer at the school can be finalized.