Board seeks clarity on volunteer background checks in Policy 911; appendix distinguishes casual vs. sustained contact

The board discussed Policy 911, a routine revision addressing district volunteer management, and asked for clearer guidance on when criminal background checks are required.

Director Mann summarized that Policy 911 had been reviewed with the policy committee and aligned with MSBA guidance. Director Berry asked whether parents volunteering for PTO events such as a book fair would need a criminal background check. Dr. Anne Marie Leland, director of community education and strategic partnerships, pointed board members to the policy appendix: casual volunteers do not require checks; background checks are needed for volunteers who will work one‑on‑one with students or be left with small groups.

Board members raised practical concerns about the cost and administrative tracking of background checks for volunteers who routinely work with students. Dr. Leland and interim superintendent Dan Bittman said administration will return with numbers on volunteer volumes and budget impacts in a future update. The discussion did not change policy language at the Nov. 10 meeting; the policy will return for action consistent with the board’s policy calendar.