School District of Osceola Student Privacy Statement and Volunteer Confidentiality Agreement
Students and staff in the School District of Osceola have the right to expect that information about them will be kept confidential by all volunteers. Additionally, the U.S. Congress has addressed the privacy-related concerns of educators, parents, and students by enacting the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (known more commonly as FERPA. Among other provisions, FERPA allows the government to withdraw federal funds from any educational institution, including the School District of Osceola, which disseminates students' education records without parent consent. (Policy #8350)
- Each student with whom you work has the right to expect that nothing that happens to or about him or her will be repeated to anyone other than authorized school department employees, as designated by the administrators at your school. Even when discussing a student with those who are directly involved in a student's education, such as a teacher, principal, head coach (for volunteer coaches), or school counselor, you may not share otherwise confidential information with them unless they have a need to know the information in order to perform their professional responsibilities.
- You may not share information about a student even with others who are genuinely interested in the student's welfare, such as social workers, scout leaders, clergy, or nurses/physicians. A health or safety emergency where knowledge of the information is necessary to protect the health or safety of the student or others is the only exception. Thus, you must refer all such questions to the school employees so authorized and indicated to you, typically the student's teacher or principal.
- Parents, friends, or community members may in good faith ask you questions about a student's problems or progress. Again, you must refer all such questions to the authorized school employees. You may not share information about a student even with members of your own family or the student's family.
My submission of this form indicates
I agree not to disclose information about any student records to anyone other than an authorized school department employee except for a health or safety emergency where knowledge of all information is necessary to protect the health or safety of the student or others. I will refer all requests for such information from those not directly involved in the student's education to authorized school department employees.
I acknowledge I have read and understand the volunteer handbook. Linked here.
Further, I agree that all activities undertaken by myself, as a volunteer, are taken at my own risk. I agree that the School District of Osceola shall not be liable for any personal injury, property loss, or damage arising from my volunteering and as a result of the negligence of the School District, its agents, or its employees. Accordingly, I express release and discharge the School District from all such liability claims.