Strategic Partnerships
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Volunteer Program Frequently Asked Questions
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How do I apply to be a PCS volunteer?
All registration is online at www.pcsb.org/volunteerregistration Be prepared to upload or separately send an image of your driver’s license or gov’t issued photo ID. If you have a Social Security Number (SSN) it must be entered, or we will be unable to process your application. Students under 18 do not need to upload an ID or enter their SSN.
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What volunteer opportunities are available?
There are exciting opportunities each day in Pinellas County Schools for volunteers and community partners to make a difference in the lives of our students. Please consider becoming involved in one or more of the following ways:
1) Mentor
2) Tutor
3) Classroom/Front Office Assistant
4) Booster
5) Field Trip Chaperone
6) College and Career Center Support
7) School Advisory Council (SAC) Member
8) PTA/PTSA Member
9) Community or Business Partner
10) Speaker
11) Coach
12) Media Center Support
13) 21st Century After-School Program
14) so much more .
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Can I be a volunteer without a SSN?
Yes, only US citizens or permanent residents are required to submit a SSN.
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What is the volunteer eligibility policy?
- The District Office performs a national background check on all applicants and will review all offenses to determine the outcome of your volunteer status. PCS reserves the right to determine your eligibility status.
- YOU MAY NOT VOLUNTEER IF CONVICTED OF any felony sexual related crimes, (including lewd and lascivious crimes) and felony child abuse.
- YOU MAY NOT VOLUNTEER IF CONVICTION WAS WITHIN THE LAST TEN (10) YEARS for other felony crimes, and any misdemeanor crimes of a sexual nature, and misdemeanor crimes related to children.
- YOU MAY NOT VOLUNTEER IF CONVICTION WAS WITHIN THE LAST FIVE (5) YEARS for misdemeanor crimes of violence, misdemeanor drug crimes, and misdemeanor crimes involving weapons.
- LIMITED VOLUNTEER: May volunteer, but MAY NOT HANDLE MONEY if crimes involving worthless checks/petty/retail theft committed within the last five (5) years. May volunteer, but MAY NOT DRIVE students for DUI conviction within the past five (5) years. MAY NOT DRIVE students for two DUI convictions within the last ten (10) years. MAY NEVER DRIVE students if volunteer has three or more DUI convictions.
- CASE BY CASE REVIEW: Other misdemeanors – Multiple convictions – Pending charges- Other Restrictions
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What is level 1 volunteering?
Most of our volunteer opportunities can be performed with a level 1 clearance. As a level 1 volunteer you must always be in the eyesight of a PCS employee or level 2 volunteer. You may never be alone with students and will need to be escorted at all times while on our school campuses.
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What is level 2 volunteering?
Certain volunteer opportunities require an additional screening called level 2. This most often is necessary if volunteers are going to be unsupervised with students, i.e. out of the eyesight of a school board employee or Level 2 volunteer. Examples of unsupervised contact could be certain day field trips, overnight field trips, taking a group of students on a tour, tutoring or mentoring in a closed space, etc. Additionally, it is at the discretion of any of our schools to require this additional level of screening for all their volunteers.
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How do I become a level 2 volunteer?
The Level 2 screening requires the volunteer to have a Social Security Number (SSN) and be fingerprint processed through the FBI/FDLE - Federal Bureau of Investigation and Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Level 2 volunteers must first be an active and approved level 1 volunteer and at least 18 years of age. Level 2 screenings are valid for 5 years. More information and a list of our suggested fingerprint vendors may be found at www.pcsb.org/level2
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What are the requirements and responsibilities to chaperone a field trip?
Chaperones are required to be active and approved volunteers and must be 21 years of age or older. Depending on the type of field trip, chaperones may be required to be level 2. Chaperones main responsibility is to supervise students and therefore they may not bring along a younger sibling or guest.
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What is required if I want to be a mentor?
All mentors need to be active and approved PCS volunteers and have attended a PCS 1 hour Mentor Workshop. You may sign up for a PCS Mentor Workshop at www.pcsb.org/mentorworkshops If you are interested in being a Take Stock in Children (TSIC) mentor then an additional application is required as well as watching a TSIC 30 minute video. TSIC registration and video link provided upon request.
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Do I have to reapply to volunteer each year or for each of my child’s schools?
Once you are an approved PCS volunteer you are eligible to volunteer at any Pinellas County public school. You do not need to reapply to volunteer each school year, but you will need to reactivate your volunteer profile annually by logging into the volunteer portal and answering the screening questions.
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Who do I contact for questions about volunteering?
Our elementary and middle schools have a Family & Community Liaison who manages the school volunteer program and who is your point of contact at the school level. At our high schools, the College & Career Coordinator manages the volunteer program and is your point of contact. You may search by school for the Family & Community Liaison or College & Career Coordinator
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How do I get to the Volunteer System Portal?
The link to the Volunteer System is https://focus.pcsb.org/volunteer/
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How do I know my username and password for the Volunteer System?
When you are first approved as PCS volunteer, you will receive an email with your username and password. Your username is generally v.lastnamefirstinitial (not case sensitive) and your password is always: Lastnamexxxx (last name only, first letter capitalized, xxxx=4 digit birth year). To confirm your username and password, please see your approval email or contact the Family & Community Liaison or College & Career Coordinator at the school.
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What are my responsibilities as a volunteer?
- Follow District policies and procedures
- Dress appropriately following the Student Code of Conduct www.pcsb.org/code
- Follow directions and guidance of the staff member or level 2 volunteer you are working with
- Log all your volunteer hours in the Volunteer System
- Reactivate your volunteer profile each year
- Report any arrest to your school point of contact or the Office of Strategic Partnerships (volunteer@pcsb.org)
- Report any concerns to your school point of contact or the school administration
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What do I do if I am injured as a registered volunteer?
Volunteers should report any incidents involving injuries to the principal and school secretary (within 24 hours when possible). If the major contributing cause for the need for treatment is within the course and scope of your volunteer duties, you will be directed to an authorized Urgent Care Center under the PCS workers’ compensation provider network. You will be asked to complete a claim worksheet form prior to going for treatment. The school will provide you with a form that you can take to the Urgent Care Center for treatment. Treatment for a serious or life-threatening emergency may be received from any emergency facility.
