Get Involved

We greatly appreciate the support of our volunteer base at New Albany – Plain Local Schools as they provide a natural extension to the classroom and our learning environment on a daily basis. The Board of Education adopted a revised policy for volunteers on January 26, 2015.  The intent of the policy is to update the district approach to our work with volunteers in regards to background checks required to volunteer in our schools with students unsupervised. All volunteers working with students unsupervised are required to have a background check, performed by our partner, SecureVolunteer. 

K-5 – Background checks are required for any volunteer that will be working unsupervised with children in the school building. Examples include reading and literacy support outside the classroom, math facts support and field trip activities.  

6-12 – Background checks are required for any volunteer that will be working with students unsupervised outside the school campus.  Examples include, overnight field trips, work that may take place at an individual’s home, etc.   

The school district greatly values the dedicated and valuable service of our volunteers. To continue to protect the safety and welfare of our students, criminal background checks are required for all K-5 volunteers and for volunteers that may be unsupervised with students in grades 6-12. 

The Board of Education approved a revised Volunteer Policy at its board meeting on January 26, 2015. The revised volunteer policy now requires that the cost for the criminal background check be paid for by the volunteer rather than the Board of Education as part of the district implemented reductions plan. A criminal background check will cost $19.45 and is valid for 5 years from the date of completion and will allow a volunteer to work in any school building and assist with school sponsored activities and field trips.

Visitors and Volunteers – What’s the Difference?

Visitors who may be attending/assisting at a child’s party at school, having lunch with their child, etc are considered visitors and do not require background checks. They do, however, need to check-in and out at the main office of each building when visiting campus. 

Volunteers are individuals who are working in our schools or volunteering for an off campus school sponsored activity who may be unsupervised with K-5 students at anytime or who may work unsupervised with students in grades 6-12. Volunteers require criminal background checks, visitors do not.

The questions to ask to determine if you need a background check, “am I going to volunteer unsupervised at the K-5 level or will I be working unsupervised with students in grades 6-12?” If the answer is yes, a background check is required and may be obtained via SecureVolunteer by clicking here.

For any questions on the volunteer or visitor policies in our school district, please contact the office of your student’s school building or call 614-855-2040 for more information. Background checks are now processed completely online through our partner Secure Volunteer.

Volunteering helps you make new friends and contacts

One of the best ways to make new friends and strengthen existing relationships is to commit to a shared activity together. Volunteering is a great way to meet new people, especially if you are new to an area. Volunteering also strengthens your ties to the community and broadens your support network, exposing you to people with common interests, neighborhood resources, and fun and fulfilling activities.

Volunteering increases your social and relationship skills

While some people are naturally outgoing, others are shy and have a hard time meeting new people. Volunteering gives you the opportunity to practice and develop your social skills, since you are meeting regularly with a group of people with common interests. Once you have momentum, it’s easier to branch out and make more friends and contacts.

Volunteering provides many benefits to both mental and physical health.

• Volunteering increases self-confidence. Volunteering can provide a healthy boost to your self-confidence, self-esteem, and life satisfaction. You are doing good for others and the community, which provides a natural sense of accomplishment. Your role as a volunteer can also give you a sense of pride and identity. And the better you feel about yourself, the more likely you are to have a positive view of your life and future goals.
• Volunteering combats depression. Reducing the risk of depression is another important benefit of volunteering. A key risk factor for depression is social isolation. Volunteering keeps you in regular contact with others and helps you develop a solid support system, which in turn protects you against stress and depression when you’re going through challenging times.
• Volunteering helps you stay physically healthy. Volunteering is good for your health at any age, but it’s especially beneficial in older adults. Studies have found that those who volunteer have a lower mortality rate than those who do not, even when considering factors like the health of the participants. Volunteering has also been shown to lessen symptoms of chronic pain or heart disease.

If you’re considering a new career, volunteering can help you get experience in your area of interest and meet people in the field. Even if you’re not planning on changing careers, volunteering gives you the opportunity to practice important skills used in the workplace, such as teamwork, communication, problem solving, project planning, task management, and organization. You might feel more comfortable stretching your wings at work once you’ve honed these skills in a volunteer position first.

Volunteering can provide career experience

Volunteering offers you the chance to try out a new career without making a long-term commitment. It is also a great way to gain experience in a new field. In some fields, you can volunteer directly at an organization that does the kind of work you’re interested in. For example, if you’re interested in nursing, you could volunteer at a hospital or a nursing home. Your volunteer work might also expose you to professional organizations or internships that could be of benefit to your career.

Volunteering can teach you valuable job skills

Just because volunteer work is unpaid does not mean the skills you learn are basic. Many volunteering opportunities provide extensive training. For example, you could become an experienced crisis counselor while volunteering for a women’s shelter or a knowledgeable art historian while donating your time as a museum docent.
Volunteering can also help you build upon skills you already have and use them to benefit the greater community. For instance, if you hold a successful sales position, you raise awareness for your favorite cause as a volunteer advocate, while further developing and improving your public speaking, communication, and marketing skills.

Volunteering is a fun and easy way to explore your interests and passions. Doing volunteer work you find meaningful and interesting can be a relaxing, energizing escape from your day-to-day routine of work, school, or family commitments. Volunteering also provides you with renewed creativity, motivation, and vision that can carry over into your personal and professional life.

Many people volunteer in order to make time for hobbies outside of work as well. For instance, if you have a desk job and long to spend time outdoors, you might consider volunteering to help plant a community garden, lead local hikes, or help at a children’s camp.

Consider your goals and interests

You will have a richer and more enjoyable volunteering experience if you first take some time to identify your goals and interests. Start by thinking about why you want to volunteer. Also think about what you would enjoy doing. Volunteer opportunities that match both your goals and your interests are most likely to be fun and fulfilling for you.

(Source: HELPGUIDE.ORG; Authors: Joanna Saisan, M.S.W., Melinda Smith, M.A., and Gina Kemp, M.A., September 2013)