Pomona School Board Passes a New Measure

In California, a measure passed by the Pomona school board on Tuesday night will now require parents who volunteer at the schools for more than 20 hours a month to undergo criminal background checks. In addition, schools will require full state Department of Justice checks for parents who go on field trips or chaperone students on overnight trips.

This measure is the first of an expected series of actions recommended during six recent community meetings. As touching and roughhousing at the middle schools and smoking, drinking and vandalism in the high school restrooms are on the rise, the community recognizes the importance of parental control and guidance within the classrooms and schools. However, making sure that those who are in the company of these children do not have a questionable background is a priority as well. Maintaining this balance is crucial to ensuring the safety and well-being of the students.

The Red Cross Moves Ahead with it’s New Screening Policy

After accusations of impropriety among volunteers surfaced in the aftermath of Katrina, the Red Cross has mandated that all volunteers nationwide receive background checks. The organization’s goal is to complete all of these background checks by the end of March.

“Some people really struggle with it,” said Don Carroll, a board member of the Red Cross Hawaii Chapter. “Given that we’ve had certain problems, at least on a national scale, it’s probably just one of those governance issues you’ve got to deal with – it’s happening in the corporate world and the nonprofit world. Life is changing.”

Some Red Cross volunteers are worried about giving out personal information, while others are hurt because they know they are not a criminal. However, as Jenny Carrick, a national Red Cross spokeswoman in Sacramento points out, “These are changes that need to occur to ensure not only the safety of the other volunteers, but the safety of the clients being served by the American Red Cross. Anytime that you have change there’s obviously going to be people who have concerns or don’t want to be part of that change.”

In all, the Red Cross has 775 chapters nationwide, with 1.12 million volunteers and an annual budget of $3.4 billion.