​Visiting our campus:
RAPTOR Screening
Florida state law and Sarasota County School District policy requires that every person who visits a district school must be screened through the national sexual predator/offender database. The district uses a program called RAPTOR, the district visitor management system, to perform this screening that is required upon every visit to a school. Although all school volunteers must be Level 1 Approved (see below) before they are allowed to volunteer in schools, they also are required to be screened through RAPTOR with their driver’s license once they have reactivated or applied for a volunteer account, and each time they visit our campus.

NEW REGISTRATION SYSTEM FOR ALL VOLUNTEERS

Volunteering at SAA:
SAA welcomes volunteers in schools and is grateful for their support.  The parent volunteer requirements at SAA are a minimum of 10 hours for the 2019-2020 school year. If the minimum volunteer hours are not fulfilled by May 1, 2020, your child's spot could potentially be affected for the following school year.
In order for you to volunteer at any Sarasota County Public School, you are required to sign up through the NEW volunteer registration system, which is available in the SAA office or online. See instructions below:

1. Go to the Community Involvement Portal: https://volunteer.samaritan.com/custom/528/#/volunteer_home
2. Click on Volunteer Opportunities.
3. Search for Sarasota Academy of the Arts.
4. Click on “More Details”
5. Select “SIGN UP” on the left side of the screen under the photo.
6. Select “NEW VOLUNTEER” and complete the application. EVERY volunteer needs to do this whether they have volunteered for 20 years or are brand new.
7. If you are a SCS Staff Member or Student, this is when you are finished. If not…
8. After you submit your application, you will receive an e-mail within one to two business days from “Sarasota County Schools <TheAdvocates@VerifiedVolunteers.com>” to complete a background screening. Click the link provided in the e-mail that starts with https://app.verifiedvolunteers.com/verifyfollowed by a bunch of letters and/or numbers.
9. Complete the background screening using the information you provided in your application. Most of this information will auto-fill so you will only need to retype a few sections.
10. You will receive a confirmation e-mail from “TheAdvocates <TheAdvocates@VerifiedVolunteers.com>” once Sarasota County Schools has reviewed your background screening.

 
Please note: This background screening will request your social security number. This is a secure server that is only associated with Sarasota County Schools. If you do not have a social security number or do not wish to provide it, this could extend the time it will take for approval due to a potential result in false background check findings (i.e., someone with the same name and birthday).
 
Level 1 Clearance for Sarasota Academy of the Arts
With this clearance, you must remain within eye and earshot of a school staff member when around children. Once you sign up, you will be prompted to complete a background check via your e-mail.  

A Level 1 screening is required for volunteers when the volunteer is continuously and directly (within sight or hearing) supervised by a school staff member. Volunteer assignments that require Level 1 criminal background screening include, but are not limited to, the following: 

• assisting a teacher in the classroom
• working in an office, cafeteria, or media center
• assisting with a school event
• tutoring a student in academics

A volunteer approved at Level 1 will receive an email notice of approval. 

All approved volunteers will subsequently appear on the list of approved volunteers for Sarasota Academy of the Arts. Volunteers not approved at Level 1 will receive notice including information on how to file an appeal. Please be aware that if you are not approved for Level 1, then you will not be allowed to volunteer for any school event.    

Also, if you are planning on attending ANY and ALL field trips, you will need the additional Level 2 clearance and will need to obtain Level 1 approval prior to scheduling fingerprinting. They cannot be done simultaneously. Level 1 approval could take up to 2 weeks to come back, and then the same goes for Level 2, so please allow ample time and do not wait to sign up.  

What is Level 2 Screening?

A Level 2 screening is required for volunteers who chaperone field trips, and outside of school activities, work with students in unsupervised settings and/or when the interaction with students is of a more interpersonal interaction than academic focus. Level 2 screenings require a fingerprint check of criminal history. Volunteer assignments that require Level 2 criminal background screening include, but are not limited to, the following:

• working with a student(s) in a setting not continuously supervised by current school staff;
• working with a student in a long-term, interpersonal relationship (e.g., formal mentoring);
• transporting students other than his/her own children;
• volunteering when not under the continuous supervision of current school staff; chaperoning all field trips and daytime activities when volunteers may not be under the continuous supervision of current school staff. Please note that the minimum age for volunteer chaperones on overnight field trips at all grade levels is 25.

PROCEDURES FOR LEVEL 2 VOLUNTEER CHAPERONE CLEARANCE
 
Thank you for your willingness to work as a volunteer chaperone in the Sarasota County School District.  Sarasota Academy of the Arts requires that individuals serving as chaperones for any and all field trips and some daytime activities must have Level 2 approval, which requires fingerprinting for a criminal background screening. To apply for Level 2 approval, volunteers must first be registered as an approved and active volunteer in the Sarasota County School District volunteer registration system (Volunteers Count!). Volunteers who are uncertain about their volunteer registration status can ask the school-based Volunteer Coordinator if they are on the school’s list of approved and active volunteers.

• If not already an approved volunteer with an active registration, the individual must register as a volunteer on the Community Involvement Portal. They can do this online at home, at any school, or at the Community Involvement office in the Landings. Registrations are processed around seven days, sometimes longer at the beginning of the school year. Once approved, the volunteer’s name will appear on the Approved Volunteer list at the school(s) for which they registered. Volunteers who enter an email address during registration will receive an email when they are approved.

 

• Those volunteers approved at Level 1 may apply for Level 2 background screening by selecting one of the following two options to schedule an appointment:
  • Sarasota County School District Department of Safety and Security – Level 1-approved volunteers can make an appointment for fingerprinting with the Sarasota County School District Department of Safety and Security at the school district administration complex - 1960 Landings Blvd., Sarasota, FL  34231, Safety and Security, blue awning.
    • Fingerprinting hours are 8:30am – 4:00pm BY APPOINTMENT ONLY.
    • Cost is $38.00. We accept Visa, MasterCard, and Discover credit and debit cards (no preloaded cards). Also money order or cashier’s check made payable to Sarasota County School District.
    • To schedule an appointment, call 927-9000, ext.  31132
    • North Port Fingerprinting Site:

North Port Police Department
4980 City Hall Blvd.
North Port, FL 34286
Hours - Wednesday and Friday from 8 am to 11 am
 
Process:

1. Tell LiveScan Operator at North Port Police Department
   1. LiveScan is for the “Sarasota County School Board” Volunteering
   2. Pay $5.00 to be fingerprinted
   3. ORI Number: V58020003
2. Get Transaction Control Number (TCN) from LiveScan Operator
3. Go online (within 30 days) to https://www.fdle.state.fl.us/caps to access the Civil Applicant Payment System (CAPS).  Pay with a Credit Card for the background check. The cost for this will be $29.25.
4. Background check will be processed by Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) after CAPS payment is received. 

Results: 

1. Live-Scan Background results will be sent to the Sarasota County School Board (usually within 48 hours). The Sarasota County School Board will notify you to advise if you are approved to proceed with the process.

 
Once approved at Level 2, the volunteer’s name will appear on the Approved Volunteer list at the school(s) for which they registered with the notation of Level 2 approval. Volunteers will not receive notice when approved and will be contacted only if there is a problem with the fingerprints or if not approved.
 
IMPORTANT INFORMATION – PLEASE READ BEFORE SCHEDULING YOUR APPOINTMENT

• Please be advised that the fingerprint costs are non-refundable if not approved as a volunteer.
• Volunteers must present a current photo ID at the pre-scheduled fingerprinting appointment. Acceptable forms of ID include the following: state or federally issued driver license, state ID, military ID, or alien registration card with photo. Expired photo ID cards are not accepted.
• Schedule the appointment 2-3 weeks prior to the date the school needs proof of Level 2 approval.
• Volunteers must reactivate in the volunteer registration system at the beginning of each school year. The Level 2 clearance will stand from year to year for those volunteers who reactivate and who have no criminal dispositions.
• For questions regarding school district volunteer requirements, call 927-9000, ext. 31500.
• For questions regarding the Level 2 screening process, call 927-9000, ext. 31132.

 
School District Employees Serving as Volunteers
When a school-district employee serves as a volunteer and not as an employee, the employee must apply in the Community Involvement Portal. Verified employees are automatically designated in the system as Level 2 approved.

Facebook Volunteer group

Sign up for important updates from SAA. Get information for SAA Volunteers right on your phone—not on handouts.
​
​A.   If you have a smartphone, get push notifications. 

On your iPhone or Android phone, open your web browser and go to the following link: rmd.at/saavol 
​Follow the instructions to sign up for Remind. You’ll be prompted to download the mobile app.

B.   If you don’t have a smartphone, get text notifications.

Text the message @saavol to the number 81010.

If you’re having trouble with 81010, try texting @saavol to (240) 252-7650.
* Standard text message rates apply.

 Are you an approved SAA Volunteer? If so, click below for upcoming opportunities!

​SUNSHINE COMMITTEE

The intent of the Sunshine Committee “gifts” is to provide a small token of our esteem and consideration when our members are celebrating a happy occasion or facing a challenging time in their lives.

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