The Examiner U-46 News FeedU-46 policy change yields discretionary exceptions By Seth Hancock
School District U-46’s policy concerning community resource persons and volunteers has been updated to allow some people with criminal records to volunteer on a case-by-case basis.
The changes are to Policy 6:250 which were approved by a unanimous vote by the Board of Education on Nov. 7.
The policy previously prohibited people from volunteering who had certain criminal records, even after serving their time, but the change allows the superintendent to “make exceptions… on a case-by-case basis.” However, those with a violent offense against youth, including sex offenders, are still prohibited, officials said.
There are four points listed on when a volunteer with a criminal history can be allowed: “The volunteer is working within a program developed by any local police department aimed at mentoring teens or youth; and, The volunteer is supervised by a certified staff member of School District U-46 and/or a representative of the local police agency that organizes the mentoring program at all times while with students; and, The volunteer is not a child sex offender (see policy 4.175); and, The Superintendent confers with the local police agency that operates the mentoring program to receive written support for the individual being considered for such exception.”
Superintendent Tony Sanders said the change stemmed from some potential volunteers who had criminal drug and gang records but were precluded as part of a youth empowerment program through the Elgin Police Department.
“We’ve run into issues where there’s individuals who have been through a criminal history, have served their time, have come back into the community and want to give back their time and talk about their experiences and why students should not go and follow their path,” Sanders said. “And this precludes those individuals from being in our schools as a volunteer.”
Sanders added: “It allows them to come in as a parent, allows them to come in as an audience member, allows them to go to football games. But if you want them to participate with a principal in mentoring a student, it’s not possible. So, on a case-by-case basis, we would like the opportunity for me to be able to review an individual’s record to determine whether or not they should be allowed to work alongside our students, and if so, if that would be under a chaperone or alone.”
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