Pubdate: Sat, 22 Sep 2001
Source: Los Angeles Times (CA)
Copyright: 2001 Los Angeles Times
Contact:  http://www.latimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/248
Author: Gary Moskowitz
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)

SCHOOL BOARD APPROVES CHECKS

Volunteers In School District Will Be Subject To Extensive Background 
Checks In 2001-02 School Year.

BURBANK -- Not just anybody can chaperon an off-campus trip, lead an 
instrumental music group or coach an athletic team in Burbank.

The school board on Thursday approved updated board policies on 
parent and community volunteers in educational programs and has 
already begun implementing those policies.

Any parent or community member who wishes to volunteer as a coach, 
music instructor or chaperon for overnight programs for the school 
district must agree to criminal background checks and drug or alcohol 
screenings, according to the new policy. Mike McDonald, school board 
member, said taking precautions with volunteers and full-time coaches 
is a necessity.

"Any parent who cares about these programs and wants to volunteer 
shouldn't mind being screened," McDonald said. "Kids are vulnerable, 
and we cannot be too careful. It's not a problem now, but we don't 
want it to become one."

Sue Boegh, director of career education for the school district, said 
only paid coaches and instructors had to do drug testing until now.

Under the updated policy, any unpaid volunteer within the school 
district can be subjected to background checks and screenings.

"This isn't a reaction to any one specific incident. This is a way 
for us to be consistent in our requirements and expectations," Boegh 
said. "We are fortunate to have volunteers in our district on a 
regular basis, but I think parents find it reassuring that the 
district is very strict about this."

The school district began evaluating its policy on background checks 
last winter, after a Burbank American Youth Soccer Organization coach 
was discovered to have a conviction for felony sexual battery.

District bylaws now state that volunteers in the school district will 
have to submit to criminal background checks at the discretion of the 
school district.

Drug screenings can be administered for amphetamines, marijuana, 
cocaine, narcotics, phencyclidine (commonly referred to as PCP), 
sedatives and hallucinogens.

The district may also test for the presence of alcohol in the 
volunteer's blood system.
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MAP posted-by: Josh