Mandatory Background Checks for Volunteers

In Prince George County, Maryland, the school system will start a public relations campaign this Monday notifying parents about its background screening policy towards volunteers. The school system has been screening its volunteers since August.

Criminal background checks became mandatory for the school system after a volunteer football coach at Bowie High School, Aaron Burroughs, was arrested on July 31 for allegedly coercing a 15 year old girl at the school to work as a prostitute. The policy is retroactive, requiring all current volunteers to be checked if they want to continue. In addition, volunteers are responsible for paying for their own background check.

The school system has two types of background checks. A commercial check, costing $10, includes a criminal record search and will apply to volunteers working in the classroom or adults who are going on day and overnight field trips. The other, a criminal background check, costing $66, requires fingerprinting and will apply to volunteers who have uncontrolled access to students such as student teachers and mentors.

Prince George County is one of the few school districts in Maryland to mandate such checks, screening 834 volunteers between August and November. Some residents have raised concerns stating that they feel background checks might detour volunteers. However this has not proven to be the case. According to Mary Nusser, PTSO president at Bowie High School, “The thing is that most people who want to volunteer don’t mind the inconvenience. And this might make people think twice if they have nefarious thoughts.”