Ms. King, if you have been affiliated, in some way, with GCS for the past 31 years, then it should be a no-brainer that a background check is necessary to do ANYTHING in GCS!

While in some ways it is a shame. However, that is the society in which we live.

I am just amazed that Ms. King felt that due to her past that she would automatically be qualified to volunteer. I am amazed at what some people feel their past gives them a "free pass" for things.

How sad that we even have to have background checks at all. That is the larger sadness of our society.

Shalom

Walking a neighbor's kids to the bus stop in the morning requires a background check?

Hugh,
This isn't the time or the place, but I wanted to ask you, When did you say "Bush was going into Iran"? I didn't want to miss the date.

Darryl, I was wondering about that. Even a lot of churches are doing background checks. And it IS a sad commentary on our society.

"Guess it is a sad commentary on our society that a volunteer cannot volunteer."

That's an incorrect statement. A true statement would be that a volunteer who isn't willing to undergo a background check cannot volunteer in this instance. The law is designed to protect our kids, not assume your guilt.

I really have to question the motives of a volunteer who only wants to come and help put kids on the bus the FIRST day of school. Are you really there for the kids? If you are so concerned about the kids, why not allow a background check? Must not be too committed.

My gut feeling is that it's more about YOU than THEM. Please clarify if possible.

Patience, DD, patience.

This isn't a new policy; the existing policy dates to at least 2005 (see http://www.guilford.k12.nc.us/policies/admin_policy/kf.htm). However, it may not have been applied uniformly. In particular, as a GCS volunteer, I don't recall ever being asked to provide information or permission for a check.

While completely understandable, it's nevertheless sad that background checks might be needed.

Kids lose either way. If the checks aren't performed, the kids are placed at risk. However, by increasing the burden on (costs to) volunteers, we end up with fewer volunteers. These checks knock out some of the people that they are supposed to; at the same time, they increase the hassles and paperwork for everyone else.

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Anyone who truly wants to volunteer, is NOT going to let a background check stop them. It does, however, provide a good excuse for those who have only a tepid interest in helping out.

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All the volunteer has to do in my county is fill out a form, we handle the cost of the background check. Don't you feel better knowing that a volunteer in your child's class has been cleared? I sure do. It is unfortunate that it is neccessary in today's world, but any volunteer who scoffs at a background check raises red flags in my book. I am not taking any chances when it comes to the kids in my class!