Greenville County Schools

Volunteer Guidelines

PURPOSE

To further enhance safety measures to protect students, staff and families by conducting annual background checks of parents/guardians and others wishing to volunteer in schools and during school events.

OVERVIEW

ALL volunteers, except those noted below, must be cleared EACH school year through the Greenville County Schools (GCS) Volunteer Application Process.  The process is currently defined as a background check through the SC Sex Offender Registry.  (Note: A separate background check for volunteer coaches is coordinated by the GCS Director of Athletics.)

Exceptions to the volunteer background checks are as follows:

• One time, in-school activities such as classroom or career speaker when a teacher is present, or service on school committees that do not interact with students.

• One time, after-school public events such as athletic concessions and school carnivals.  (NOTE: Person must receive volunteer clearance for any activities beyond the first participation.)

(NOTE: Person must receive volunteer clearance for any activities beyond the first participation.)

The GCS application process to become an eligible school volunteer requires NO action by parents/guardians (two primary contacts on SASI).  The process is automatic unless the parent/guardian opts out of volunteer application eligibility by writing or e-mailing the principal.

Others (non-parents/non-guardians) must complete a written application.  Once approved through the GCS Volunteer Application Process, a person is eligible to volunteer through the school, PTA, and other school organizations. The GCS Volunteer Application Process is in addition to any volunteer procedures used by schools, PTA, and other school organizations. 

Approved volunteers signing in on SimpleTrack to volunteer at schools will receive a printed name tag marked VOL.  Visitors receive a Visitors badge. For after-school activities, the school administration will provide a list (names only) of cleared/approved volunteers to each school organization. A person’s name may not appear on volunteer list for three reasons: 1. Person has declined to volunteer.2. Person has a common last name and person’s identify has not yet been verified. 3. Person is a registered Sex Offender.   The school organization will provide each volunteer assigned to work with a name badge (printed or other) that includes the organization’s name and the volunteer’s name.

Greenville County Schools

Volunteer Application Guidelines

Required for Persons Other than Parents/Guardians

NOTE:  Representatives of community agencies who volunteer/work in multiple GCS schools will be cleared each year through a district-level process coordinated by the Coordinator of Safe and Drug Free Schools.

Steps to Become a GCS Volunteer

1. Person must complete the Greenville County Schools Volunteer Application, which is required for anyone who is not a parent/guardian (two primary contacts in SASI) of a student at the requested school.  Application must be submitted during a school volunteer orientation or to the school office.  Volunteer applicant must apply EACH YEAR at each requested school.  A photo ID (state issued driver’s license or identification card) must be presented to a staff member at time of application to verify identity.  Copies of the application may be taken to other schools if the applicant desires to volunteer in multiple schools.  Photo ID must be shown at each school.

2. Any person not known by school staff must be interviewed by the school principal or school administrator designated by the principal.  In addition to the GCS Volunteer Application, high school and college student volunteers must provide a letter of recommendation from teacher/advisor/professor sponsoring the student group.

3. School administrator or office staff member appointed by the principal checks non-parent/guardian wishing to volunteer against the Sex Offender Registry using the alphabetical listing. The Sex Offender website is: http://services.sled.sc.gov/sor/.   (NOTE:  Persons under 17 may not appear on Sex Offender Registry.)

4. If volunteer applicant is cleared, then school administrator should provide “cleared” application to volunteer chair to add person to SimpleTrack as an approved volunteer.

5. If person’s name is listed on the South Carolina Sex Offender Registry, the applicant CANNOT serve as a school volunteer in any capacity.  Principal should inform volunteer applicant by letter (form letter provided) that he/she cannot serve as a school volunteer and the applicant can schedule a meeting to discuss.

6. Any meeting to review a person’s GCS Volunteer Application should include the applicant, principal, and the Coordinator of Safe and Drug Free Schools.  The meeting will be used to verify the information with law enforcement.

For assistance, principals should contact the Coordinator of Safe and Drug Free Schools.

Click here to download the Volunteer Application.