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School board approves clearer volunteer tiers, requires chaperones to pass fingerprint screening
Summary
The Duval County School Board reviewed and reached consensus on revisions to volunteer-screening policy 9.63 and related chaperone language in policy 4.45, distinguishing low- and higher-risk volunteers, requiring fingerprint-based background checks for chaperones on field trips, and adding visible identifiers and a temporary-privileges clause.
The Duval County School Board on Wednesday discussed and moved forward with changes to volunteer-screening policy aimed at separating lower-risk visitors from adults who may be alone with students and requiring higher-level screening for chaperones on trips.
The board agreed the revised policy classifies volunteers into two tiers: a Level 1 volunteer who "does not directly work with students" and will remain in the line of sight of district staff, and a Level 2 volunteer who "may work directly with children" and will undergo a more extensive background check including fingerprinting. "A chaperone is considered a Level 2, that would require fingerprinting," said Jackie Watkins, who walked the board through the proposed language.
Board members pressed staff on operational details: visible on-site identifiers (badges or other marks) tied to screening level,…
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