Procedures

Pursuant to state law, S.C. Code Sections 23-3-430 and 59-19-117 and as a proactive measure to ensure the safety of the students in Anderson District One, all volunteers will be screened by the School Check IN system located in the front office area of all fourteen schools.

This procedure is effective beginning September 12, 2011.

Definition:  A volunteer is any person providing services for or on behalf of Anderson District One, on the premises of district property or at a school-sponsored or school-related activity on or off school property, who does not receive compensation or benefits.

Applicability:

  • All daytime school volunteers and visitors must check in at the school’s School Check IN station and wear the issued identification badge while in the school.  This process eliminates the need for the daytime volunteers to fill out the district volunteer application.

  • Volunteers engaged in direct contact with students and volunteer activities, before, during, or after school hours, without the direct supervision (or in the presence) of district employees must complete an application and the School Check IN system must be processed on each one.  This procedure must be done on a yearly basis.

  • Volunteers/chaperones that participate in and/or supervise overnight school-related trips must complete an application and the School Check IN system must be processed on each one.  This must be submitted two weeks before the scheduled trip.  This procedure must be done on a yearly basis.

  • Volunteers assisting with coaching in any sport or participating in any extracurricular activities (band, ROTC, etc…) must complete a volunteer application that will be sent to the district office for a complete background check.

Before allowing individuals to volunteer at your school or location, you must follow the steps given below, and acceptance of and adherence to these procedures is mandatory to participation as a volunteer.  There are no exceptions.

  1. All daytime school volunteers and visitors must check in at the school’s School Check IN station and wear the issued identification badge while in the school.  This process eliminates the need for the daytime volunteers to fill out the district volunteer application.

  2. All volunteers going on an overnight field trip or working one on one with a student must complete the full volunteer application each year.  The volunteer application is returned to the School Volunteer Coordinator or principal’s designee and placed on file at the school.  At this time, the volunteer must complete the School Check IN system process in order to be fully cleared as a volunteer.

  3. Volunteers participating in one on one activities or chaperoning overnight field trips must complete one application for each school where they have children enrolled, if applicable.  The volunteer application can be duplicated for this purpose.

  4. The only exception is a volunteer that is coaching or working with students in an extracurricular activity.  Those applications should be sent directly to the district office where district personnel will review the volunteer application and conduct the SLED and the sex offender background checks on each applicable volunteer.    

  5. If a prospective volunteer has a serious arrest record, is listed as a sex offender, does not clear the School Check In system or the district background check, the school and/or district administration will deny participation.

  6. If a volunteer applicant is unwilling to agree to the application requirements set forth in these procedures, the school principal or his designee will inform the applicant that he/she may not perform volunteer services in Anderson School District One.  Additionally, any volunteer who falsifies information on his/her application will not be eligible for service in the current school year.

Other Related Information:

Any school or individual can review the national sex offender registry at www.familywatchdog.us/.  This website is accessible and provides accurate sex offender location information.  Additionally, the sex offender law and the Anderson County Sheriff’s sex offender watch is posted on the district’s website under Transportation.

Exceptions to the volunteer background checks are as follows:

  • One time, in-school activities such as classroom parties or career speakers, when a teacher is present, or service on school committees that do not interact with students.

  • One-time, after-school public events such as athletic concessions and school carnivals.

  • Student teachers/Practicum Students/College Tutors/Good News Club Volunteers have had prior FBI/SLED background checks.

It is recommended that each school establish a procedure of informing teachers of the status of their volunteers.