Benefits of Volunteering
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Get Connected - There’s no better way to know what’s happening in our schools.
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Discover Great Resources - Learn about workshops designed for parents and families.
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Tap into a Network - Build rapport with our school communities and share ideas, concerns, and experiences.
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Watch Yourself Grow - Put your skills and talents to use for a noble cause—students in the LESD community.
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Speak Up - Effectively suggest changes.
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Create Solutions - Be part of the solution, helping make positive changes.
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Be a Role Model - Demonstrate the importance you place on education.
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And Much More! - Sponsorships, leadership training, accolades and overall student success.
volunteer with kids
Volunteer Opportunities (Parents & Student Teachers)
The volunteer program at Lawndale Elementary School District is designed to encourage parents and student teachers be active participants in the LESD community while ensuring that steps are taken to protect the interests of our students.
A school volunteer is a person willing to take time to share wisdom and experience with those on the threshold of the future, our students. A school volunteer helps to expand and enrich the students’ learning experiences by working under the direction of teachers and school staff. Education is a team effort and volunteers are a very critical part of the school team.
The district has established volunteer guidelines to provide for an effective program that ensures a safe environment for you, the children, and our staff. We are extremely appreciative of our community resources and thank you for providing your precious time, individual talents, and expertise as a school volunteer.
If you are a parent and have questions, please contact your school site's Community Liaison.
If you are a student teacher or student observer and have questions, please contact Trine Apfelberg at (310) 973-1300 ext. 50043.
Frequently Asked Questions
The district has established volunteer guidelines to provide for an effective program that ensures a safe environment for you, the children, and our staff. Click here to review the Volunteer Handbook. To begin the volunteer process:
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Contact the Community Liaison at the school where you would like to volunteer.
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Complete and submit the Volunteer Application, Participation Agreement and Handbook Receipt & Acknowledgement. You must also meet the applicable health and safety requirements.
After you submit your application and the applicable health requirement (Tuberculosis, Immunizations), the Community Liaison will review your application and complete the safety requirements. Depending on the nature of your volunteer assignment, you may be scheduled for Live Scan fingerprinting (EC §45125).
Note: Beginning Sept. 1, 2016, there are new immunization requirements (SB 277) for parents and community members who volunteer for early childhood education (Preschool, Transitional Kinder). Preschool and TK Volunteers are now required to have a current Tuberculosis screening and an immunization record showing a Measles, Pertussis and Flu vaccine. All other volunteers only require a Tuberculosis screening.
The district has established volunteer guidelines to provide for an effective program that ensures a safe environment for you, the children, and our staff. Click here to review the Volunteer Handbook. To begin the volunteer process:
-
Contact Trine Apfelberg at (310) 973-1300 ext. 50043.
-
Complete and submit the Volunteer Application, Participation Agreement and Handbook Receipt & Acknowledgement. You must also meet the applicable health and safety requirements.
After you submit your application and the applicable health requirement (Tuberculosis, Immunizations), the Community Liaison will review your application and complete the safety requirements. Depending on the nature of your volunteer assignment, you may be scheduled for Live Scan fingerprinting (EC §45125).
Note: Beginning Sept. 1, 2016, there are new immunization requirements (SB 277) for parents and community members who volunteer for early childhood education (Preschool, Transitional Kinder). Preschool and TK Volunteers are now required to have a current Tuberculosis screening and an immunization record showing a Measles, Pertussis and Flu vaccine. All other volunteers only require a Tuberculosis screening.
Live Scan is a system for the electronic submission of fingerprints to the California Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation (if required). Fingerprints are digitized through an electronic process (Live Scan), enabling the secure electronic transfer of the fingerprint image data, in combination with personal descriptor information, to central computers at the Department of Justice.
Live Scan is conducted at the Lawndale Elementary School District Office in the Human Resources Department by referral from the Community Liaison only. All records associated with LiveScan, including criminal offender records, are maintained by the Human Resources department in accordance with district regulations.
After you complete the Live Scan process, your fingerprints will be transmitted to the Department of Justice. Typically, results are received within 72 hours, but can take up to 30+ days if there are any delays. Delays occur for many reasons and require manual intervention from the Department of Justice, which takes time.
Once results are received and reviewed, the department or school site will be notified of your clearance status.
No. Volunteers that work under the close supervision of an LESD certificated staff member do not have to be fingerprinted.
Volunteers that take on the considerable responsibility of working with students outside the supervision of Certificated Staff are fingerprinted (EC §45125).
Not everyone with an offense on their record is excluded from volunteering. Each situation is handled confidentially on a case-by-case basis in accordance with board policy and State/Federal laws. Please note, prospective volunteers are asked to disclose any and all prior history of criminal convictions other than minor traffic violations.
Your fingerprints are cleared with the Department of Justice and the FBI. Beyond that, your fingerprints will not be used for any other purpose than to make sure you are safe to work with students and will not be passed to any other agency.
Yes. Each agency must LiveScan (fingerprint) individually.
In accordance with Health and Safety Code §121545, volunteers must show proof of a negative Tuberculosis screening prior to volunteering.
Volunteers can get a traditional PPD testing or complete a TB Risk Assessment Questionnaire (must be signed by a medical professional).
Individuals can utilize their own healthcare provider or use free/low cost community clinics to obtain a Tuberculosis screening.
MLK Jr. Center for Public Health
11833 S Wilmington Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90059
(323) 568-8100
By appointment only
Begin the volunteer onboarding process with your home school. If you volunteer at multiple schools in the district, connect with your dedicated Community Liaison to share your application with other locations. Click on the corresponding school below to initiate the volunteer process.
Anderson ES, FDR ES, Green ES, Mitchell ES, Smith ES, Twain ES, Addams MS, Rogers MS
No. You only need to complete a new application if your information has changed or if there is a break in service greater than one year.
Yes, all volunteers go through the same process. Depending on the volunteer assignment, you may be referred for fingerprint clearance by the Community Liaison.
