The St. Mary’s County Board of Education has revised its visitor policy to include mandatory training for all volunteers. The policy change approved on August 28 modifies an earlier “best practices” for elementary school visitors that went viral and attracted international media attention. Among those “best practices” were the prohibition of hugging students and bringing homemade food into school.
After the uproar School Superintendent Dr. Dr. Michael Martirano, in a March 20 letter to parents that is still posted on the schools’ website, blamed the flap on the media, saying it was “sensationalized.” But the school system backed off on the proposal and revised the regulations that led to the softer approach that was adopted Wednesday.
The previous policy encouraged visitors. That has been eliminated. Instead visitors and volunteers have to check in at the school office. The new policy now says, “The board recognizes the value and importance of visitors who support students and schools.” But the policy is also replete with concerns of “the expectation of our community to protect our students and schools and ensure their safety and security each day.”
Regarding homemade foods, the policy now says, “Schools are encouraged to limit celebrations that involve food during the school day. Although we are not banning homemade treats, we are encouraging that food celebrations include store bought baked goods with ingredients listed to protect students with allergies and health issues.”
The schools will be handing out two-sided blue colored cards called “A Guide to Visiting our Schools,” that also lists the new policy.
Also ready for distribution is a Volunteer/Visitor Training Manual that includes a list of dos and don’ts, cafeteria best practices, and activities and responsibilities approved for volunteers.
Although the policy does not mention the hugging by a volunteer of a student who is not their child, the policy manual does in extremely bold typeface say: “Staff/Student Dating or Fraternization is Prohibited by St. Mary’s County Public Schools’ Policies and Regulations.”
The policy goes on to say: “Volunteers and visitors should NOT engage in interactions with students that rise to the level of fraternization, engage in non-school related communications with students, including electronic communication unless under the supervision of the parents/legal guardians. Communicating with students on social networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace and Twitter is prohibited under SMCPS policy.”
During the presentation of the ne
