School Volunteer

Position Type:
School VOLUNTEER/School Volunteer

Date Posted:
4/9/2025

Location:
Northampton Area School District

You must have all of the required documentation to complete the application process. You may click on each Act below and it will take you to the website to apply for each clearance.
Clearance Information

• Act 151 Childline
• Act 34 PA State Police
• Act 114 FBI Fingerprinting
• TB Test Results (must be dated within 3 months of submission date)
• Government Issued ID (legible copy)

Thank you for considering volunteering with the NASD. Because of our duty to ensure student safety, school districts are among the most heavily regulated organizations when it comes to allowing students access. Becoming an approved volunteer requires a multi-step process, including applying, obtaining the appropriate clearances, and the formal acceptance of your application by the board. We use the Frontline system to facilitate the process so that it is as straightforward as possible. We understand that some of these steps are burdensome. However, they are required by the Commonwealth.

The Board of School Directors (the Board) values the unique contributions made by parents/guardians and community members to the educational and extracurricular programs of the Northampton Area School District (the district). Accordingly, the Board encourages parents/guardians and community members to be volunteers for the school district, subject to certain requirements and procedures as set forth in its Volunteer Policy. General information related to the expectations of volunteering with the NASD is provided below. For a full understanding of the Board's Volunteer expectations, please review relevant Board Policy, including policy 916: School Volunteers found here.

A Volunteer is defined by the district as an adult individual who applies for or is holding an unpaid position as a volunteer with a school or a program, activity or service, as a person responsible for the child's welfare or having direct volunteer contact with children.

The role of volunteers is to assist, but not replace or assume the responsibilities or authority of district staff. Volunteers shall not provide regular instruction or educational training to students enrolled in the district. Volunteers may undertake activities in support and at the direction of the district staff, provided that such activities do not conflict with the requirements of this policy or the additional procedures established by the school within the district on whose behalf volunteers provide services.

• Under no circumstances shall volunteers be permitted to administer or enforce discipline upon students enrolled in the district.
• Except in the case of an emergency, volunteers shall not administer first aid or other medical assistance to students.
• Except as specifically authorized by the Board on a case-by-case basis, volunteers shall not be permitted to operate any motor vehicles owned by or under the control of the district. The volunteers shall not be permitted to transport students other than the volunteer's own child/children by motor vehicle in support of any school program.
• Each volunteer shall keep strictly confidential all information s/he may learn about the students enrolled in the district and each volunteer shall be required to read and sign the district Confidentiality Statement.
• Volunteers will be required to submit to Raptor ID scans upon entering school buildings.

Volunteer as Mandatory Reporter

A volunteer shall make a report of suspected child abuse if the volunteer has reasonable cause to suspect that a child is a victim of child abuse and the volunteer is an integral part of a regularly scheduled program, activity or service and is a person responsible for the child's welfare or has direct contact with the children. Every volunteer should read the district's Policy No. 806 (related to the duty to report child abuse).

Certifications Required To Serve As Volunteer

Prior to serving as a volunteer, the volunteer shall be required to complete, submit for approval, and file in the District Personnel Office the following information:

• (1) a report of criminal history record information from the Pennsylvania State Police or a statement from the Pennsylvania State Police that the State Police central repository contains no such information relating to that person;
• (2) a certification from the Department of Human Services as to whether the person is named in the Statewide database as the alleged perpetrator in a pending child abuse investigation or as the perpetrator of a founded report or an indicated report;
• (3) Prior to serving as a volunteer, a report of Federal criminal history record information shall be required.
• (4) and the results of a tuberculosis examination (i.e., Tine test), all in accordance with state law and regulations.

The District is willing to accommodate Volunteers with disabilities and/or special needs. Volunteers requiring accommodations should contact the relevant building principal.

Disqualification of Volunteer

Holding the position of a volunteer is not a right, but a privilege conferred upon the volunteer by the Board each school year. The district reserves the right to suspend or terminate the privilege to serve as a volunteer at any time, with or without cause.