Mar 19, 2015 By Suzanne Elliott 3 min read

Because of a change in state law spurred by the Jerry Sandusky case, the Peters Township School District tweaked its policy for people who volunteer at any of the schools in the district.

Starting July 1, all volunteers in Peters Township schools will be required to have background clearances, said Shelly Belcher, district spokeswoman. This change applies to volunteers who are expected to have unsupervised and direct contact with students during their volunteer service.

“The district has created a website for volunteers with links to apply for the clearances,” Belcher said in an email. “We are in the process of updating the information with the new policy.”

The changes are part of a package of legislation enacted in response to a report of a state Task Force on Child Protection, which was prompted by the arrest and conviction of former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky on charges of molesting children over a number of years.

When the new school year begins, Peters will require anyone who comes into contact with a student to have a Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance, also known as Act 151; a Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check, or Act 34; and an FBI Federal Criminal History Record, Act 114. Three different clearances are needed because each request searches a different database.

Examples of volunteers who will now need these clearances include tutors who work with students when a teacher is not nearby, chaperones for school field trips who guide student groups when a teacher is not present, overnight chaperones; athletic trainers, equipment managers, coaches, club sponsors, and choreographers and musicians who provide instruction to dance and theater groups and marching bands. In addition, all school board-approved volunteers must obtain a tuberculosis test required by the state Department of Health at their own expense unless financial hardship can be proved.

According to the district, clearances obtained in association with the Peters Parks and Recreation Department cannot be used. Previously, homeroom parents would not need a clearance, for example. They now need all three clearances.

The new law also provides the ability to obtain a waiver of the FBI fingerprint check if the volunteer has been a resident of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for the entirety of the previous 10 years and has never been convicted of a disqualifying offense, such as criminal homicide. The three clearances, in most cases, take two weeks to get and cost $10 each. The district said once those clearances are received, they will need to be taken to the district administration building. For more information, visit www.ptsd.k12.pa.us/volunteers.