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Volunteering

Volunteering at Willmar Public Schools

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Willmar Public Schools.  We value the time and talent of our volunteers! Volunteering in Willmar Public Schools can be an amazing and rewarding experience. As a volunteer, you will provide direct service to children in our schools. Volunteers are asked to be dependable, patient, flexible and sensitive to the learner. A sense of humor comes in handy, too! Since we serve a diverse population of learners, you'll have the unique opportunity to see the world through another's eyes.

Volunteers must complete the following two items prior to volunteering:

  • Background Check
  • Bullying Training

Please continue reading for more information on these two requirements for volunteering.

Background Checks

To ensure the safety of our students, we require criminal background checks on the following:
  • Any volunteer who accompanies students off campus (i.e.. chaperones for field trips).
  • Any volunteer who is responsible for working with students on campus, but outside of the regular classroom structure.  
  • Any volunteer who is responsible for working with students in the classroom or on a regular basis.


Volunteer background checks do not need to be done every year. Volunteers are required to complete a background check every 5 years. Once you have been approved through our volunteer background check process, you will be cleared to volunteer within the next 5 years . To inquire whether you already have a cleared volunteer background check on file, please contact Renee in Human Resources at 320-231-8514 or getzr@willmar.k12.mn.us

The online criminal background check form requires you to provide authorization for a variety of criminal background checks:

  • Nationwide Sex Offender Registry Search: Provides a sexual offender registry check of all 50 states plus the District of Columbia.
  • Nationwide Criminal SuperSearch: A criminal search for 47 states plus the District of Columbia.
  • Social Security Number Trace: Provides the name, aliases, 10 year address history, and all social security numbers associated with the individual. Verifies that the social security number is valid, gives year of issuance and state issued.
  • MN BCA Criminal Search: Provides a criminal history through the MN Bureau of Criminal Apprehensions.
 
Please list the name of the classroom teacher that you are volunteering for under "position applying for" on the form. The background checks will normally be done at the volunteer's expense ($12 - paid online while filling out the form) and information will be kept confidential. Click here to complete the volunteer background check. If a volunteer is unable to pay for the background check, please contact the building principal.
 
Human Resources staff members will review the results of each background check. If there are any concerns regarding the results of a background check, Human Resources will contact that individual directly within 24-48 hours after receiving the results.  The online form includes an option for volunteers to request a copy of their own report. 

Thank you for your cooperation as we continue to maintain a safe and secure educational environment for our students.

Note: If you are a current employee of Willmar Public Schools, you are already cleared to work in the District, so do not need to complete the volunteer background check.

Bullying Training

 

All volunteers must also read the Notice to School Volunteers.  An electronic signature will be required at the end to ensure that each volunteer has read and understands these requirements under the Safe and Supportive Schools Act.  This Act is widely known as the anti-bullying law passed by the Minnesota legislature. 

The Act requires public schools to adopt a written policy to prevent and prohibit bullying and to discuss this policy with its volunteers. As a past school volunteer or new volunteer, we are notifying you of our new policy #514 Bullying Prohibition. In the hopes that you wish to continue to volunteer, we are also inviting you to attend training sessions on the policy that we will be conducting with students and/or staff members. If you are interested in attending these training sessions, please contact your building Principal.

If you are unable to attend a training session, it still is important that you are aware of some of the basic provisions of the new law and policy as set forth in this notice. Please read the District Bullying Prohibition Policy by clinking the link above and read the additional information below. Once you have completed this, click the link below.

Please click here to submit your electronic signature confirming you received and read this notice.