Are you sure it is all volunteers and not just volunteers who have regular direct contact with children? That could make a big difference.
Since this is a state wide issue, I would contact the volunteer coordinators at your neighboring schools and see if you can't all get together somehow and come up with a plan. It seems strange that you are just finding out now about a bill that was passed in last year's legislative session; perhaps someone is misinterpreting something?
In our district, the school district requires certain volunteers to go through background checks, but they have the volunteers go through the same process as school employees, and they cover the cost for it. Perhaps if a group of schools get together and talk to the district about their concerns, the school district might agree to absorb some of the cost or come up with some other solution.
- mum24kids
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Yes our governor signed the bill when it came across is desk last week. The law takes effect in the state of PA beginning January 1, 2015. So now every volunteer, visitor, or anyone that desires to engage in an activity near our students during school hours or after school hours, basketball games, football games, etc., all parents who are boosters will have to have all clearances which include criminal background checks, FBI fingerprints, and child abuse clearances. The clearances are good for three years, but must be re-done when they expire and any new criminal activity within those three years, must be reported within 72 hours of the occurrence. Can't see many parents wanting to volunteer anymore so our low numbers will go even lower. Our district has been in communication with us during this entire process so we are trying to come up with a plan to not lose anymore volunteers.
- CVSDvolunteer
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