The Board believes that a mentoring program, whereby a caring adult provides guidance for an individual student, is an effective strategy to help at risk students perform better in school. Therefore, principals or their designee are authorized to contact local businesses and governmental agencies to recruit mentors. Furthermore, employees of the District are encouraged to volunteer as a mentor.

Individuals who volunteer to serve as a mentor will receive training in that role. All community mentors are subject to a background check by the Office of District and School Security.

Any staff member who volunteers to serve as a mentor may be released from his/her duties for up to one (1) hour per week to mentor a student to whom s/he has been assigned. Released time for mentoring shall be approved by the employee’s supervisor and shall be scheduled at a time that does not prevent the employee from performing the essential functions of his/her assignment.

The Superintendent shall develop and update as needed administrative procedures to implement this policy.

F.S. 1012.01(5)

Technical 1/17/08