Board moves to limit volunteers, adds revocation language after public concern over background checks

At its Oct. 21 meeting the Tabernacle Township Board of Education conducted a first reading of Policy and Regulation 9180 (School Volunteers) and voted to add three amendments: limit volunteer participation to 10 events per school year (effectively one per month), allow volunteer status to be revoked at the superintendent’s recommendation and discretion, and require volunteers to work cooperatively with school staff.

Dr. Kevin McCloy moved the initial amendment to limit volunteers to 10 events per school year; Mrs. Fanti seconded. Subsequent motions added the revocation clause and the requirement that volunteers work cooperatively with staff; those motions were seconded and recorded in the minutes. The minutes show the board voted on Policy 1a and 1b with the three amendments to 1b (vote recorded in the minutes).

During public comment four community members — Dana Weir, Stephanie Kenney, Lindsey Hauenstein and Jen Harbourt — addressed the volunteer policy. The commenters raised concerns about background checks and the policy’s protections; the minutes record these public comments but do not include verbatim statements.

The policy item was handled as a first reading, and the minutes do not specify an effective date for the amendments or whether additional background-check language will be added before final adoption. The board’s action on Oct. 21 sets the amendments as part of the record for subsequent consideration and any required second reading or formal adoption.