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Board asks staff to clarify volunteer-clearance rules after parent questions about TB tests and supervision
Summary
Board members discussed confusion among parents about which volunteers must complete fingerprint, state police and child-abuse clearances and whether guest volunteers need TB tests; staff will produce an FAQ and propose policy edits if needed.
The Punxsutawney Area School District board on Monday directed staff to draft an FAQ and consider policy edits after parents raised questions about volunteer clearance requirements, tuberculosis testing and supervision of volunteers in schools.
The issue: Parents and community members had asked why some volunteers—particularly volunteer coaches and overnight chaperones—must provide a fuller set of clearances (including fingerprints) while other helpers, such as PTO parents or classroom party volunteers, are asked for fewer checks. Board members also raised questions about when a TB test is required: the district’s legal consultation cited a state rule that distinguishes volunteers who serve 10 hours or more per week from shorter-term guest volunteers. The transcript record clarifies the threshold discussed is 10 hours per week, not a 10-hour total.
Board discussion and direction: Board members recommended clearer wording in the volunteer policy to avoid public confusion. One suggestion was to amend the policy’s supervision paragraph to explicitly state that guest volunteers who have not completed full clearances “cannot be left alone with students.” Another practical step approved by consensus: staff will compile an FAQ that maps common volunteer activities (PTO classroom helper, field-trip chaperone, overnight trip chaperone, volunteer coach) to the specific clearances required and whether supervision is required; staff will share the FAQ with the board before public release.
Why it matters: Board members said the district needs to balance child-safety precautions, statutory requirements and practical burdens on volunteers. Several board members said fingerprint and background checks can be time-consuming and costly for volunteers, while others emphasized district liability and student safety.
Technical clarifications captured: Staff reported three common clearance types used in the district: state police criminal background check, child-abuse (childline) clearance, and fingerprints (FBI) for certain volunteers; a TB test is required under state code unless a guest volunteer serves less than 10 hours per week. The district noted some volunteers shift between unpaid and paid roles (for example, volunteer coaches later becoming paid), which has historically led staff to treat those adults with the higher standard of clearance.
Next steps: The board asked administration to draft an FAQ, identify places in the policy text that should be clarified (for example, distinguishing “position volunteers” from “guest volunteers”), and, if needed, propose policy edits for a future meeting. The board also flagged that the solicitation of legal advice or PSBA assistance may be used if language needs revision.
