The Board believes that a mentoring program, whereby a caring adult provides guidance for an individual student, is an effective strategy to help 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.

A 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 an assigned student. 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 the assignment.

The Superintendent will prepare administrative procedures necessary to implement the mentoring program. These procedures will be contained in the District’s Mentoring Program Manual.

Technical 1/17/08