I thanked the Recreation Department for their new policy regarding background checks for volunteers who work with children. Dave Donnellan mentioned that the Municipality had invested in new software that shortens the process to 2-3 days and only costs $18 per background check. I added how I was hoping the School District would adopt a similar policy. As Steve Feller pointed out, many of the volunteers coach more than one sport or activity. They will be contacting the School District, if they haven't already, to work together on this issue.
While getting the school district on board would certainly be helpful, the largest numbers of volunteer coaches are in the independent sports associations (football, baseball, softball, lacrosse, especially). The school district can't help with that. Reaching out to Chip D'Allesandro at the Football Association, Chris Helmici (I'm probably misspelling all sorts of things here) at the Baseball Association, Scott Foor and Chuck Bachorski at the Softball Association, and whomever is in the leadership of the lacrosse group would probably be highly productive. The number of kids in the rec sports leagues far outweighs the number who would be covered by the school district, and except for basketball, all the large-drawing rec sports groups are independent.--Neil Berch
ReplyDeleteThanks for the information, Neil. Didn't you say that the Softball Association requires background checks?
ReplyDeleteIf the leadership of the various sports associations are reading this, maybe they can contact Dave Donnellan at the Rec Dept. ddonnellan@mtlebanon.org . Since they have this new software, I believe they would be willing to work with the various groups.
Elaine
The softball association does require background checks, but they typically take 2-3 weeks and involve snail mail. Cost is also $20 (which is borne by the person seeking the clearance). This new system sounds much more efficient.--Neil Berch
ReplyDeleteIt sure is. When I was at the last School Board Policy Committee meeting, I had asked if they would consider passing a policy where anyone who uses school property (gyms or fields) must have background clearances. Mary Birks and Larry Lebowitz thought it was an excellent idea and were going to give it some consideration.
ReplyDeleteThe latest flyer for Rec basketball was asking for volunteers and directed those folks to the municipal website to read the now required background check procedure and policy. Anything that is through the Rec Center now requires this. But you are right, Neil, it is the independent sports associations that need to contact Dave and be consistent with their security requirements.
Elaine