Volunteers are a vital part of building relationships between school, parents, community members, and business partners. We truly appreciate the hours our volunteers serve in our schools and the value they add to the educational experience for our students.  

To continue to ensure the safety of our students, the District is making several changes to our volunteer requirements and application process for the 2024-2025 school year. Effective 8/1/2024, all volunteers will be required to complete a Level 2 background screening every 5 years. This background check will review records in the state of Florida as well as the national FBI database. The cost for this screening is $41.25 and volunteers will be responsible for this cost. The District will pay the yearly monitoring fee for each volunteer. Volunteers will need to complete an annual volunteer application to ensure accurate records.

Before volunteers can be approved for the 2024-2025 school year, volunteers will need to complete a Raptor volunteer application and this background screening.  

The District partners with Fieldprint for fingerprinting appointments and processing. Fieldprint has locations throughout the county and many sites are open outside of regular work hours, including weekends. The code listed below is now active. We encourage volunteers to be printed as soon as possible to avoid any delays once the application opens. Volunteers can schedule a fingerprinting appointment using the following link: FIELDPRINT SCHEDULING. 

1. Go to the following link: FIELDPRINT SCHEDULING. 

2. Select “sign up” if you have never utilized Fieldprint before.  

3. For your employer please list the following:

           Pasco County Schools

           7227 Land O Lakes Blvd. Land O Lakes, FL 34638

       4. Select “I know my code” from the dropdown menu when prompted to do so.  

       5. Enter the following code, “FPPASCOVECHSVol”.  

       6. After selecting your appointment, you will be prompted to make the payment. 

The following is a list of offenses that disqualify individuals from approval. Backgrounds Screening - Autodisqualifiers.pdf

Any other felony offenses, crimes against children, and/or violence will be reviewed in accordance with the District’s Professional Review Committee. This committee is responsible for reviewing background screenings for employees, vendors and volunteers.  

Please note the average processing time for reviewing and approving background screenings is 30 days. We encourage volunteers to complete the volunteer application and background screening early so that they can be approved to volunteer for upcoming events and opportunities for the 2024-2025 school year. 

We know this additional background screening places a financial responsibility on our volunteers, but the District believes this step is necessary to ensure we have up to date background information pertaining to all adults that interact with students and staff on our campuses. Our students’ safety is always our first priority.   

Current employees are not required to complete an additional background screening. Should a current employee terminate employment with Pasco County Schools and seek to volunteer, a new background screening must be completed at that time.  

Questions regarding the volunteer application and background screening process can be directed to [email protected].  

Retirees Serving As Volunteers

Retirees may provide volunteer services with an FRS employer within the first 6 months of retirement without violating the termination requirements with the Florida Retirement System (FRS) if the following criteria are met: 

The volunteer may not accepts any compensation for volunteer service. 

The volunteer may not volunteer more than 20% of the hours previously worked for the FRS employer. This equates to an average for most of 8 hours per week. 

The duties of the volunteer must differ from the primary duties the volunteer was originally asssigned as an employee. 

The volunteer's schedule and willingness to serve is controlled by the volunteer. 

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding New Volunteer Procedures 

Why is the volunteer application process changing?

Currently volunteers apply annually, and the District conducts a search of criminal records within the state of Florida. This is a one-time check each year. By requiring all volunteers to conduct a Level 2 background screening, the District will be able to review records throughout the United States. The District will also pay a monitoring fee for each volunteer so in the event a volunteer is involved in a situation that would disqualify them from working as a volunteer, the District will receive a notification. This is similar to the process in place for employees and vendors.

I am a current District employee or employee at a charter school in Pasco County. Do I need to be reprinted as a volunteer?

No. Current Staff or charter school staff that work in Pasco County are not required to complete an additional background screening. You will have the ability to designate your employment status on the volunteer application. Should a current employee terminate employment with Pasco County Schools and seek to volunteer, a new background screening must be completed at that time.

I am retired from Pasco County Schools. Do I need to complete a new background screening to volunteer?

Yes. Once an employee separates from employment with the District, the District is no longer permitted to have access to this employee’s fingerprinting record. For the District to have access to your prints and have the availability to monitor future activity, a new Level 2 background screening is required.  

I have already completed a Level 2 background screening for my current employer.  For example, I am a first responder, or I work in another public entity. Do I need to complete another Level 2 background screening to volunteer in Pasco County Schools?

The District’s transition to Level 2 background checks allows the District access to monitor prints of current volunteers and receive real-time notification of any criminal activity that may result in ineligibility to volunteer. Unfortunately, at this time unless you are printed through the District’s code, we will not have access to your prints and will be unable to monitor any future activity. For that reason, all volunteers will be required to complete a Level 2 background screening through Pasco County Schools.

I already have a JLA Vendor Badge. Do I need to be reprinted as a volunteer?   

No, you are not required to complete an additional background screening if you have a current background screening for a JLA badge on file with the District. You will be required to complete an application with Volunteer Programs where you must indicate that you hold an active JLA contractor/vendor badge. We will utilize both your application and current background screening results to determine eligibility.  

What if I need financial assistance?

Schools will work with District staff to identify individuals who demonstrate a financial need for assistance. Should you want to volunteer at a school and need financial assistance for the background screening, please contact the school site. Schools can then follow up with you as discretionary resources become available. Organizations such as booster programs and PTOs may also be able to provide assistance.

What is the difference between a school visitor and a volunteer?

Visitors are typically at a school for a specific limited purpose. Volunteers are typically at schools on a regular basis. Even though all volunteers are required to serve under the direction of a Pasco County School staff member, volunteering provides situations in which a volunteer could work directly with students.  Visitors and volunteers are both required to sign-in at the office upon arrival to any campus. The following chart includes examples of the differences between Volunteers and Visitors. 

 

Volunteer  Must have an approved volunteer application and Level 2 background screening	Visitor  Must be signed into Raptor as a visitor/guest and will be monitored by a staff member at all times
Classroom helper – holiday activities, small   groups, reading to students	School tour or parent meeting
Field trip chaperone or other school sponsored   off-campus activity supervising students	Award Ceremonies (Student of the month,   graduation)
Athletic coaching/assisting	Walking your child to class, eating lunch with   your child
School Events: supervising student stations at   Field Day, Special Olympics, Fun Runs, etc.	Spectator for fun run or Field Day, sports,   Special Olympics
Assisting with band/chorus/drama	Shopping at the bookfair
Serving, prepping, monitoring in the cafeteria	Guest Speaker, GATI,   presentation/performance
Helping at the bookfair, organizing the school   library/media center	Class performance/presentation,   play/chorus/science fair
Monitoring School dance/festival/carnival,   hallways (Watch Dogs)	Classroom observations (college students)
Organizing clothes closet/food pantry, holiday   shop	School celebrations (Veteran’s Day,   Halloween  Parade, etc.)
Club Sponsor, Odyssey of the Mind, Mentor,   Tutor	Judges of competitions
Early Childhood/HeadStart	Sporting Event support (chain crew, timers,   etc.)
Office helper, PTA/PTO, SAC	Community partners for staff appreciation type   events (Faith-Based Partnerships, Pack a   Sack, Coffee Cart)
Concessions, Ticket Collection/Sales, Parking,   etc. (With direct supervision of students and   cash handling.)	Concessions, Ticket Collection/Sales, Parking,   etc. (No direct supervision of students.   Cashless transactions or no money handling.)

Questions regarding the volunteer application and background screening process can be directed to [email protected].