Volunteer Application: There is no fee or charge. The Oklahoma City Public Schools Board of Education believes in maintaining an adequate level of safety and security in all schools and sites of the Oklahoma City Public School district. In order to protect applicant identity, paper applications are no longer provided nor processed by the district.
Criminal Background Check: Once prospective volunteer has completed and electronically signed the online application, they authorize OKCPS to run a background check. The Oklahoma City Board of Education will pay the fee associated with the criminal background check. OKCPS contracts with an appropriate law enforcement agency to determine whether a prospective volunteer has criminal history. Prospective volunteers will be asked to provide their name, social security number, and date of birth to the agency conducting the check.
The background check includes a sex offender registry search in all fifty (50) states. Any individual who has had a felony conviction or received a deferred sentence, after being charged with a felony offense, within ten years will be prohibited from serving as a volunteer in the OKCPS district. Any individual who has been convicted of a felony older than ten years that does not involve a violent act, sexual misconduct, child abuse, child neglect, or child endangerment will be reviewed by OKCPS Risk Management for further consideration. Any individual who has been convicted of a misdemeanor or received a deferred sentence on a misdemeanor offense that involves a violent act, sexual misconduct, child abuse, child neglect, or child endangerment will be prohibited from serving as a volunteer in the OKCPS district. Any individual who has been convicted of, or received a deferred sentence, for misdemeanor crimes which involve dishonesty, fraud, misrepresentation, deceit, or offenses which involves drugs or alcohol will be prohibited from serving as a volunteer in the OKCPS district until five years after the misdemeanor conviction or five years after the individual has successfully completed any probation they are required to complete as part of a deferred sentence. Any individual who has been convicted of a misdemeanor older than five years that do not involve a violent act, sexual misconduct, child abuse, child neglect, or child endangerment will be reviewed by OKCPS Risk Management for further consideration.
Confidentiality: No volunteer should be permitted to access, review, disclose, or use confidential student information, or participation in conversations in which confidential student information is discussed. Volunteers are held to the same standards of Code of Conduct as district staff and must observe all Board of Education policies.
Code of Conduct: Volunteers should always be supervised by at least one district employee. Keep in mind, volunteers act as role models in appropriate dress, language, and behavior.
Volunteer/Student Relationship: For the protection of all, relationships between volunteers and students must be kept appropriate at all times. Continuing a relationship with students outside of school activities is not permitted. Volunteers should not give money, gifts, or medication of any kind to students.
Appropriate touching such as handshakes, high fives, an arm or hug around a shoulder are the only safe and friendly ways to touch a child. For some children, or for some cultures, even these gestures may be unwelcome. No child should be subject to unwelcome touching no matter how well intended. If a child ever inappropriately touches you, please inform a staff member right away. Volunteers are role models for students. Conversations with students and staff should demonstrate respect for others and avoid language that may be perceived as discriminatory, profane, sexist, or offensive.
No student or staff person should ever be treated differently, spoken to disrespectfully, or denied services on the basis of sex, race, religion, disability, age, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, or marital status. In addition, school personnel or volunteers cannot encourage or promote religious beliefs by class activities, comments, or invitations to their place of worship.
Reasonable suspicion of abuse, neglect, sexual abuse, or illegal and/or dangerous activities should be immediately disclosed with staff.
Photographing students is prohibited at all times, unless it has been approved by Communications and/or Community Relations.
Discipline: Discipline: Any discipline of a student should be left up to a staff member. Never touch a child in anger or grab or chase students. Physical punishment is never permitted. If a child becomes unmanageable, find the nearest staff member.
School Safety Plan: In the event of an emergency (fire, tornado, etc.), volunteers must to be familiar with the Safety Plan of the building.
Prohibitions: OKCPS administrators reserve the right to suspend the visitation privileges of any person(s) who may threaten the peaceful and orderly operation of the school system’s environment.
Liability: The District cannot provide any type of health insurance to cover illness or accident incurred while serving as a volunteer, nor is the person eligible for workers’ compensation. Community Partner Groups are required to provide certificate of insurance naming Oklahoma City Public Schools as an additional insured at the request of OKCPS Risk Management.
By submitting your electronic signature you assume all responsibility for any and all risk of property damage or bodily injury that you may sustain while participating in any voluntary relief effort, disaster exercise or other activity of any nature, including the use of equipment and facilities of Oklahoma City Public Schools.
Further, you and your heir, executors, administrators and assigns, hereby release, waive and discharge Oklahoma City Public School and its board, officers, directors, employees, agents and volunteers of and from any and all claims which you or your heirs, administrators and assigns ever may have against any of the above for, on account of, by reason of or arising in connection with such volunteer relief efforts or your participation therein, and hereby waive all such claims, demands and causes of action. You understand that as a volunteer you are not considered an employee of Oklahoma City Public Schools.
Checkin/out: All visitors, including volunteers, are required to sign in and sign out at the main office in the school and wear the identification badge provided while on site.
All visitors, volunteers, employees, and students shall not possess or use the following items on OKCPS facilities and grounds –
Tobacco, alcohol, illegal drugs, and controlled substances or any form thereof
Dangerous weapons, including but not limited to, knives, firearms, and explosive
You expressly agree that this release, waiver and indemnity agreement is intended to be as broad and inclusive as permitted by the State of Oklahoma , and that if any portion thereof is held invalid, it is agreed that the balance shall, notwithstanding, continue in full legal force and effect.
By submitting your electronic signature you have carefully read the foregoing release and indemnification and understand the contents thereof and sign this release on your own, free act.
