Seattle Schools Community Forum

(Editor's note - the district is making a distinct difference here between oversight chaperones and day fieldtrip volunteers - I believe that may be what "A" and "B" volunteer categories are but I have a call into SPS about that.) From SPS Communications: To ensure the safety of our students and volunteers, Seattle Public Schools has updated our Volunteer Administrative Procedures, including certain instances where fingerprinting will now be required. Starting Feb. 1 , schools should follow these procedures: • As previously required, all overnight field trip chaperones must be screened via the WATCH (Washington Access to Criminal History) check. • Any overnight field trip chaperones living continuously in Washington state for more than two years shall not be required to be fingerprinted; clearance via WATCH (Washington Access To Criminal History) shall suffice. • However, if a prospective chaperone cannot provide verification of a two-year re...

I had been told the fingerprinting issue had been postponed until further notice.  Thanks to reader, Lynn, for this update from Superintendent Banda in the Friday update. To: José Banda, Superintendent From: Joseph Paperman Date:October 4, 2013 SUBJECT: FRIDAY UPDATE TO SCHOOL BOARD Field Trip Procedure Revisions To help enhance the safety of our students when they participate in overnight or out of country field trips, Risk Management has recently made significant changes to the field trip procedures. These include clearer expectations for screening and training of chaperones and for behavior of student participants. The new requirements for chaperones include an orientaion by the lead chaperone (school employee), who will review student behavior expectations as defined in the “Basic Rules of Seattle Public Schools”,the Emergency Action Plan and procedures for overnight room checks appropriate to the type of lodging. Tohelp avoid blurring of boundaries between students and c...