Volunteer Application for Shakopee Public Schools

Thank you for your interest in volunteering in Shakopee Public Schools. We offer a variety of activities you may choose from when volunteering your time. Simply complete and submit a volunteer application and upon approval you will receive instructions on next steps.

For the safety of our students and volunteers, ALL volunteers, including business partners, must fill out this application, which includes a criminal background check.

It is very important that the information you enter on the application matches your government issued identification card, including your full legal name. It is important that you provide a valid email address so you can be notified as to the status of your application and for future communication. All information collected on the application will remain confidential and not be shared outside the volunteer program.

If you have any questions about the application, please contact Melissa Sibinski: msibinski@shakopee.k12.mn.us

Thank you for supporting our students, staff and district.

Personal Information

Please select the schools at which you wish to volunteer

Please select the functions from the list below. (select all that apply)

Please select the organization(s) on behalf of which you are volunteering (if not applicable, select "None")

Please read the disclaimer below and provide your signature

As a volunteer, you represent the Shakopee School District. We consider your involvement very important and ask that you follow the policies and expectations below to help us maintain a safe and respectful environment for students, staff, and volunteers.

District Volunteer 2023-24

Confidentiality is very important: While volunteering, you may observe, read or hear much about individual students and their school or home experience. Do not discuss your observations or opinions about a student with anyone other than the student’s teacher or school principal. All information about student abilities, behavior, relationships, grades or background is confidential. We depend on our volunteers to maintain confidentiality of our students, staff and volunteers.

Sign-In/Out and Name Badge Required: You are required to sign in and out in the school office each time you volunteer. For safety reasons, we need to know who is in the building and where to locate you in case of an emergency. You must wear a volunteer name badge while in our buildings as a volunteer. Sign out promptly after volunteer duties are completed.

Dependability: In the event you will be late or unable to keep your commitment, notify the school office as soon as possible. Students and staff are counting on you.

Student Discipline: Volunteers may not discipline students beyond maintaining order in their group or activity. Please report any problems with a student’s behavior to the supervising staff person. The professional staff of the school is always responsible for discipline.

Student Contact: For the protection of both you and the students, observe the following when working with students:

-Avoid being isolated with a child, such as a room with a closed door. Work only in areas of the school that are in continual, direct supervision of district staff.
-Use the staff/adult restroom facilities rather than the student facilities.
-Refrain from giving students gifts, rewards, or food items without the teacher’s permission.
-Interactions between you and students may take place only at scheduled times and in the school.

Cultural Differences: Our school community is diverse. It is important that we work with one another without bias and consider cultural, moral, and value differences.

Younger Children: Many of the volunteer jobs require your undivided attention. If you have younger children, talk to your staff contact about volunteer projects that you can do at home.

Use of Controlled Substances: The distribution, possession or use of tobacco, alcohol or controlled substances by staff, students, visitors or volunteers is prohibited on school grounds.

Use of Cell Phones: In order to provide an optimum environment for learning, cell phones must be turned off while in or near the classrooms or the media center. Please conduct cell phone conversations away from areas of learning.

Suspected Child Abuse: As you build trust with students, you may become aware of abuse in their lives. State law requires that education professionals and volunteers report any suspected abuse or neglect. If a student gives you information that causes alarm, notify the child’s teacher or school principal immediately.

Background Check Screening Standards

In order to maintain a safe and healthy educational environment that promote the physical, social and psychological well-being of all students, Shakopee Public Schools apply Background Check Screening Standards to our volunteers. See our volunteer standards here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=18UJVaS91LfYKAgy8mCaYlV4KZ-bK2_Je    (copy link to remain in application)

Criminal Background Screening Standards

The Shakopee School District strives to maintain a safe and healthy educational environment that promotes the physical, social and psychological well-being of all students. All new employees and designated volunteers must receive a criminal background check prior to starting employment or a volunteer assignment with Shakopee Public Schools. An individual will be disqualified and prohibited from serving as an employee or volunteer if that individual has been found guilty or entered a plea of non-contender (no contest), regardless of the adjudication for any of the following disqualifying offenses:

1. Sex Offenses 

A) All Sex Offenses- Regardless of the amount of time since the offense

i. Examples: Child molestation, rape, sexual assault, sexual battery, sodomy, prostitution, solicitation, indecent exposure, etc.

2. Felonies

A) All Violent Felony Offenses - Regardless of the amount of time since the offense

i. Examples: Murder, manslaughter, aggravated assault, kidnapping, robbery, aggravated burglary, etc.

B) All Felony Offenses, other than violent or sex within the past ten (10) years.

i. Examples: Drug offenses, theft, embezzlement, fraud, child endangerment, etc.

Thank You

Thank you for applying to be a volunteer with Shakopee Public Schools. Whether you are a parent volunteer or an academy champion business partner, we are grateful for your support of our students and district.

Your application has been received and is being processed. Please note it can take up to five business days for the approval process. Upon approval, you'll receive an email confirming your approved volunteer status.