The Classical Academy Volunteer Application

On behalf of the students and staff of The Classical Academy, we wish to express our sincere appreciation for your willingness to volunteer your time so generously.

As you know, students, staff, and parents at TCA enjoy a warm, caring community that fosters the highest standards of academic, social, and emotional growth. The efforts of volunteers like you are a vital part of that community.

In an effort to further ensure the safety of our students, TCA and Academy School District 20 require that all field trip and classroom volunteers complete a background check, confidentiality agreement, and volunteer acknowledgement prior to chaperoning or working with our students. 

The Classical Academy Volunteer Guidelines are required to authorize clearance within The Classical Academy: Please read the guidelines carefully, sign and save the acknowledgement page, and be prepared to upload the signature page when prompted.

IMPORTANT: RIGHT CLICK LINK AND OPEN IN NEW TAB: VOLUNTEERGUIDELINES2024.pdf (finalsite.net) 

Please note: all volunteer applications must use your current legal first, middle, and last name on application. 

TCA requires all volunteers to respond to questions certifying that the volunteer HAS or HAS NEVER BEEN arrested or convicted of a felony or misdemeanor (other than a misdemeanor traffic offense or traffic infraction.) Individuals must report any convictions* that occur subsequent to the time they initially completed this form. Please read carefully and answer every question. If you answer YES to any of the questions, please explain in detail in the space provided. Conviction of a crime is not an automatic bar to volunteering. TCA will consider the nature of the offense, the date of the offense, and the relationship between the offense and the position for which you are applying to volunteer.

We know your time is valuable, and your willingness to contribute some of that valuable time to TCA shows your commitment to the well-being of your child and all our students. The contribution of your time really makes a difference in our students' educational experience.

Thank you again; we sincerely appreciate the gift of your time, talents, and treasure.

Sincerely,

The Classical Academy Administration

*The Classical Academy will process a background check renewal every three years from your initial background check.

Personal Information

Please select the schools at which you wish to volunteer

Volunteer Type

Please only select ONE of the following functions that best describes the type of volunteering you wish to pursue at this time.

Selecting multiple functions may delay your application.

If the type of volunteering you wish to pursue changes, please contact your campus office manager.

Please read each of the Volunteer descriptions carefully.

All Volunteer Coaches, regardless of guardianship and/or whether or not your student attends The Classical Academy OR an Academy District 20 school, you must select the Activities/Athletics Coach option.

If you are a CURRENT STAFF MEMBER at The Classical Academy, regardless of guardianship and/or whether or not your student attends The Classical Academy, you must ONLY select either Substitute, Educational Professional, or Support Staff Professional. Please do not select any additional functions, as doing so will run another unnecessary background check.

If neither of the two options above apply to you AND you are not a legal guardian of a student at the sites/schools you have selected, you must select the Non-Guardian option.

The Classical Academy Volunteer Guidelines

The following documents are required to authorize clearance within The Classical Academy:

The Classical Academy Volunteer Guidelines Signed Acknowledgement

If you have not already done so you may access the required document here:

IMPORTANT: RIGHT CLICK LINK AND OPEN IN NEW TAB: VOLUNTEERGUIDELINES2024.pdf (finalsite.net) 

Please read the guidelines carefully, sign and save the acknowledgement page, and be prepared to upload the signature page when prompted.

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

Applicant Testimony and Confidentiality Agreement

Please read the information below and provide your signature.

APPLICANT TESTIMONY – RELEASE FOR VERIFYING BACKGROUND INFORMATION

As a condition for volunteering at The Classical Academy, a background check is required. Please note that some volunteer opportunities may require fingerprinting. To conduct this review, it is mandatory to provide your date of birth.

I hereby certify that the information contained in this Volunteer Application is true and correct to the best of my knowledge. I agree to have any of the information checked by The Classical Academy. I authorize the references listed, as well as any other individuals whom the district contacts (including my current employer, former employers, and any government or law enforcement agency), to provide The Classical Academy, any and all information concerning my previous or current employment. I understand that if I limit The Classical Academy’s right to contact persons/organizations deemed necessary by TCA, the request to volunteer may not be considered further. Also, I release all parties and persons from any and all liability for any damages that may result as a consequence of furnishing such information to TCA or any of its agents, staff members, or representatives for purposes related to this form or my request to volunteer. If I feel there are errors or inaccuracies in my FBI/CBI record, I will contact the Director of Human Resources. I understand that ANY misrepresentation, falsification, or material omission of information on this form may result in my being denied the opportunity to volunteer at The Classical Academy. I understand these forms are kept on file and will remain the property of The Classical Academy.

The Classical Academy Volunteer Confidentiality Agreement

Confidentiality of Student Records: In accordance with Academy District 20 (ASD20) and The Classical Academy Administrative Policy JRCB, all student records are considered to be of a confidential nature and all TCA staff and volunteers need to ensure the confidentiality of information not be shared with students, or the public, without the written consent of parents or other authorized entity. The building principal is the official custodian of student education records in his or her building, and all inquiries regarding student records needs to be directed to the building principal. Administrative Policy JRCB can be read on the internet on Academy District 20 (ASD20) website: Active Policies - Academy District 20 Board of Education BoardDocs® Pro

The Classical Academy staff, volunteers, and substitutes should take appropriate steps to protect the privacy of students. Allowing students or others access to the student’s grades, discipline records, IEPs, 504 plans, or related private information may violate the requirements of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) regarding personally identifiable information. Student phone numbers and addresses are also to remain confidential. In order to safeguard student’s rights under FERPA, the following rules must be observed by the district staff when working with volunteers or student assistants in the classroom.

-          Volunteers and/or student assistants do not hand back assignments to students in the class where grades are visible.

-          Volunteers or student assistants do not grade student work.

-          Volunteers and/or student assistants shall not enter grades into the teacher’s gradebook, electronic or otherwise.

Some documents shall never be seen or handled by anyone other than the appropriate school personnel. These documents include Teacher’s Grade Book or Record Child Abuse Reports. Department of Human Services (DHS) Reports, 504 Evaluations, Disciplinary Files, Special Educations Records, Permanent School Records (cum files) Health/Medical Records. Information received or observed regarding individual students must remain confidential and their privacy rights maintained at all times.

CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT

I have read the above information, understand it, and agree to abide by the confidentiality requirements stated above.

By providing your signature, you are agreeing to abide by the expectations and policies of volunteering with The Classical Academy. One or more of the volunteer activities you have selected may require you to provide your United States social security number so we can perform a criminal background check. Your social security number will only be used for this purpose and we do not retain this information.

Thank You

Your volunteer application has been successfully submitted and will be reviewed per The Classical Academy's Human Resources Department. In the near future, you will be notified as to your volunteer status. If you have any questions, please contact your campus office manager.