Section 2.1: School Related Operations

Approved: September 19, 2000

Revised: June 24, 2025

VOLUNTEERS IN SCHOOLS

1.0             Rationale

District School Board Ontario North East (DSB1) supports the use of volunteers under the direction and supervision of the Board staff. The Board is committed to the effective use of volunteers in order to ensure the safety and security of students, while respecting all policies and collective agreements and not replacing the roles of DSB1 staff.  

2.0             Definitions

A Family volunteer: in a school is parent, guardian or family member who currently has a child enrolled in and attending that school.  

A Community volunteer: is a member of the community who does not have a child enrolled in the school and who agrees to undertake, without pay, a designated task that supports a classroom, school or Board-sponsored activity.

Co-op students: are not defined as volunteers.

Management of Volunteers: includes procedures for screening, orientation/training, supervising, evaluating and recognizing volunteers.

Supervision: is the overseeing of an activity for regulation or direction. The Ontario Physical and Health Education Association (OPHEA) has produced Physical Education Safety Guidelines to assist school boards in formulating site-specific safety guidelines for physical education, intramural sports, and inter-school athletics at both the elementary and secondary levels. 

Vulnerable Sector Checks: are one of three types of Police Record Checks that can be conducted in Ontario for screening purposes, governed by the Police Record Checks Reform Act. This is the type required for anyone seeking volunteer opportunities where they would be in a position of authority or trust relative to vulnerable persons, including children. It includes all applicable criminal convictions and findings of guilt under the federal Youth Criminal Justice Act, absolute and conditional discharges, outstanding charges, arrest warrants, and certain judicial orders, as well as applicable findings of not criminally responsible due to mental disorder, record suspensions (pardons) related to sexually-based offences, and in certain circumstances, non-conviction charge related information.

3.0             Policy

It is the policy of DSB1 to encourage and welcome the involvement of family and community volunteers. Volunteers enhance learning opportunities for students as well as contribute to a positive school climate.