IN Brentwood-Baldwin-Whitehall Fall 2016

Do all volunteers need to have clearances? Effective August 25, 2015, all volunteers who have direct contact with students will be required to have background clearances. The State’s Keep Kids Safe website defines Direct Contact as “the care, supervision, guidance or control of children or routine interaction with children.” The Brentwood Borough School District requires any volunteer who works events/activities such as Field Trips, Classroom Parties, Book Fairs, Music Trips and Interscholastic Competitions where they are supervising, guiding, controlling and interacting directly with students to have clearances. What if I am only visiting a school as a spectator? Do I need clearances? All school-sponsored events where parents/grandparents, etc. are attending with their own child, and they are NOT supervising, guiding or controlling other children, would NOT be required to have clearances. In these types of events, the parent is attending as an audience member. Examples include Talent Shows, Special Person’s Breakfasts, Dismissal Times, Open Houses, as well as attending events and performances as spectators. What clearances are required and how much do they cost? Three different clearances are required: 1. PA State Criminal Record Check — FREE Apply at: https://epatch.state.pa.us/Home.jsp 2. PA Child Abuse History Clearance — FREE Apply at: http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/cs/groups/webcontent/ documents/form/s_001762.pdf 3. Federal Criminal History Record Check (FBI Fingerprint) — $27* Apply at: www.pa.cogentid.com or 1-888-439-2486 Why are three different clearances required? Each clearance request searches a unique database of records. The PA clearances for child abuse and criminal records are held in two different state databases, while the Federal clearance checks criminal history through a national database. How long will it take to get my clearances? you not to wait until two weeks before your first volunteer event to apply for the clearances, as volunteers across Pennsylvania will be applying for these clearances and there might be a backlog. How often will I have to update my clearances? You will have to submit updated clearances every five years from the date of your oldest clearance. Is there a way to waive the Federal Criminal History Record Check? *The new state law permits the District to waive a volunteer’s need to obtain the Federal Criminal History Record Check (FBI Fingerprinting) ONLY if certain requirements are met. If you have lived in Pennsylvania for 10 or more consecutive years, you can sign a notarized affidavit at central office instead of obtaining the Federal Criminal History Check. What if I am not truthful about disclosing prior arrests or notifying the District of a subsequent arrest? The statute makes the failure to disclose information a misdemeanor of the third degree. What kind of offenses would preclude someone from being permitted to have unsupervised, direct contact with students? The Disqualifying Offenses listed in Section 111 of the Pennsylvania School Code include criminal homicide, aggravated assault, stalking, kidnapping, unlawful restraint, luring a child into a motor vehicle or structure, rape, statutory sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, sexual assault, institutional sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault, indecent exposure, sexual intercourse with an animal, incest, concealing the death of a child, endangering the welfare of children, dealing in infant children, prostitution, obscene and other sexual materials and performances, corruption of minors, sexual abuse of children, unlawful contact with a minor, solicitation of minors to traffic drugs, sexual exploitation of children and certain drug offenses. What should I do once I get all my clearances? Once you have received ALL THREE clearances (or two, plus the waiver if you are eligible for that), you must take the ORIGINALS to your child(ren)’s school. All district approved volunteers are to take ORIGINALS to central office. Who do I talk to if I’m unsure of whether I need clearances? You should speak with your child's principal, who will be able to qualify whether your participation/attendance is Direct Contact with students. You can usually obtain all three clearances within two weeks after you have submitted everything necessary. However, we encourage Brentwood-Baldwin-Whitehall | Fall 2016 | icmags.com 75 SC HOOL DI STRI C T N E WS The Brentwood Borough School District strongly encourages the involvement of parents and guardians in our schools. Pennsylvania State Law (Act 15) now requires that every volunteer who has direct contact with students to have the necessary clearances on file with the District. Below is a list of frequently asked questions about the Volunteer Clearance Process. Brentwood Borough Reminder that the Law Requires Clearances for Volunteers

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