Volunteer

• School Volunteer: Applicants aged 18 and older (including high school students 18 & older)
  • A School Volunteer helps teachers and staff with day-to-day classroom or school-wide activities, field trips, field days, after school socials, dances, special events, and/or serves as a guest speaker.
  • High School Student Volunteers 18 & older must be approved by the school's admin team. (See Minor/Student Volunteer below for guidance on tracking hours) 
• Athletic Coach Volunteer: for middle School or high school sports only (Applicants must have obtained a high school diploma or GED at least two years prior to volunteering in a coaching position)
  • An Athletic Coach Volunteer helps middle school or high school sports team coaches with coaching athletes in practice and games. 
• Athletic Event Volunteer: for middle school or high school sports only (Applicants at least 18 years old with a high school diploma or GED)
  • An Athletic Event Volunteer helps middle school or high school sports team coaches with practice or game activities such as tracking times, statistics, scores, and sports equipment, or operating clocks.
• Minor/Student Volunteer: Applicants under the age of 18 (different than School Volunteer; not eligible for Athletic Volunteer roles) 
  • A Minor/Student Volunteer typically helps teachers and staff with day-to-day classroom or school-wide activities; Minor/Student Volunteers needing to track their hours must obtain tracking documents from their school and arrange volunteer roles with qualified staff and organizations prior to volunteering.
• Staff Volunteer: Applicants who are current, permanent, FPS employees (Substitutes please select School Volunteer)
  • A Staff Volunteer is a Franklin Pierce School District Employee who provides volunteer services for student school affiliated activities that fall outside of their regularly scheduled work day.

Franklin Pierce School District welcomes and values volunteers.

To safeguard students, it is necessary that all volunteers be screened for eligibility, trained, and supervised by district staff during all activities.

Volunteer applicants aged 18 and older will be screened annually through the Washington State Patrol background check system, in accordance with RCW 43.43.834. Franklin Pierce School District reviews applications annually to determine volunteer eligibility status. All information is handled with strict confidence and security.

To prevent delays in your application process, please complete the Disclosure accurately. If you have any questions about completing the Disclosure, please contact our District Volunteer Coordinator at volunteers@fpschools.org or (253) 298-3009. 

Student/minor applicants must be approved by their school principal team and/or the school principal team listed in their volunteer preferences. All student/minor volunteers are required to be under the direct supervision of district staff pursuant to FPSD Policy 5630 and 5630P. 

Volunteers are responsible for following all district policies and procedures. The policies listed below are highlighted for review and affirmation as part of the volunteer application. Failure to follow district policies and procedures may result in revocation of approved volunteer status and in some cases be subject to legal liability.

• 3205 Sexual Harassment of Students Prohibited
• 3205P Procedure - Sexual Harassment of Students Prohibited
• 3. 3205.1P (2024) Procedure - Sex Discrimination and Sex-Based Harassment Prohibited – Grievance
• 3205.2P (2024) Procedure - Sex Discrimination and Sex-Based Harassment Prohibited - Implementation
• 3207 Prohibition of Harassment, Intimidation or Bullying
• 3207P Procedure - Prohibition of Harassment, Intimidation or Bullying
• 5011 Sexual Harassment of District Staff Prohibited
• 5011P Procedure – Sexual Harassment of District Staff Prohibited
• 5253 Maintaining Professional Student/Staff Boundaries
• 5253P Procedure - Maintaining Professional Student/Staff Boundaries
• 5630 Volunteers
• 5630P Procedure – Volunteers
• 3211 Gender-Inclusive Schools
• 3211P Procedure - Gender-Inclusive Schools
• 3422 Student Sports Concussion, Head Injury and Cardiac Arrest 
• 3422P Procedure - Student Sports: Concussion, Head Injury, and Sudden Cardiac Arrest

• Volunteer applicants are required to complete an application, or renew and update their application, and get approved every school year. Applicants may apply or renew as early as the first week of August of each school year. We strongly recommend applying a minimum of two weeks before a scheduled event or activity.

• Follow the guidelines in the Volunteer Application Process above, and Volunteer Information and Resources list, to complete or renew your application. 

• Once your application portal status shows "Complete", it will appear in the District Volunteer Coordinator's list of applications to review and process. If a correction to your application or more information is needed, you will receive an email from email@schooldata.net or volunteers@fpschools.org. Please note that upload errors may occur even if your status reads, "Complete." Please double check all uploads after saving them. 

• Check your email regularly for important notifications or volunteer eligibility status updates from email@schooldata.net or volunteers@fpschools.org. Be sure to also check your spam folder as these emails sometimes land there. You will receive an email when your application is approved. 

• The volunteer eligibility determination process takes 7-10 business days from the date all required documents are uploaded, saved and viewable, and all checklist items are completed.

• Once you receive your clearance approval email, you are eligible to volunteer. 

• Your volunteer eligibility starts the day you get approved and lasts no longer than one school year, expiring July 31^st of each calendar year.

What do our volunteers do?

• Motivate and support youth in building the character strengths, skills, and relationships that lead to positive behaviors, better health, smart life choices, and the pursuit of higher education and goals
• Assist with day-to-day classroom or school-wide activities
• Assist teachers and staff with special projects  
• Chaperone school field trips, after school socials, dances, or special events
• Score and time clock keeping at sports events 
• Coach/Assistant coach sports teams
• Share special skills, experiences, hobbies, or occupations by special request for the purpose of curriculum enhancement
• Participate in opportunities that give back and support the community.

Contact a school volunteer coordinator listed below, or the staff member associated with the activity or event you are interested in volunteering for, to inquire about opportunities, timelines, and participatory roles for the current school year.