School Board Enacts New District Volunteer Policy

Babylon parents interested in volunteering on a regular basis within schools and athletic fields must now undergo a formal application and board of education approval process dictated by a new policy enacted this week.

The new policy, approved by a 4-1-1 vote Tuesday night, requires prospective classroom and team coaching volunteers to complete an application form, and provide two references and background details on criminal convictions.

Volunteer coaches must have the recommendation of a head coach and the athletic director, and all the credentials mandated by New York State Coaching requirements including state fingerprint clearance, first aid and CPR certification. Volunteers will pay the related costs of those requirements, according to school officials.

All volunteers will participate in an official interview process with administrators and must attain board of education approval each year.

Board of education members said the policy is needed to provide controls and structure regarding volunteer participation.

The decision to vote on the policy ignited discussion among board members. Board member Lisa McKeown voted against enacting the policy on Tuesday and board policy committee representative Alena Berenblatt abstained from the vote. Berenblatt indicated she favored further review.

Board members Greg Antolini, Dominick Montalto, Tom Melito and Board President Dominc Bencivenga voted in favor of enacting the policy. Vice President Roger A. Katz was not in attendance.

“This provides parameters for us and for the volunteers,” said Bencivenga in calling for the policy vote. The board has ability to change, amend and eliminate policy at any point of the year, he noted during the discussion.

“I say we try it and if it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work,” said Bencivenga.

One parent in favor views it as a safety policy.

“We’ve got teams of 15, 18 kids and volunteers are very helpful and a policy like this makes it clear what volunteers can and can’t do which is a good thing,” said the parent.

Parents who don't volunteer on a regular basis, but help out on annual trips or intermittent programs are not subject to the policy requirements.

The policy stipulates that no volunteer is allowed unsupervised direct contact with students and can't provide transportation for school- sponsored activities. Volunteer coaches are not permitted to be alone supervising athletes and must be supervised by the team coach.

The application document requires information on training or experience in working with young children, asks about the applicant's reason for volunteering and the contribution the applicant believes they can make as a volunteer.