Redlands school board advances updated volunteer policy amid layoffs

REDLANDS, Calif. — The Redlands Unified School District Board of Education approved the first reading of updated volunteer policies as the district grapples with budget cuts that have triggered 60 layoff notices.

Why it matters: With fewer staff expected next school year, the district is moving forward with an already-in-progress update to its volunteer policy, aimed at strengthening student safety guidelines and clarifying what roles volunteers can and cannot fill.

Details: The policy update was first introduced in August but was delayed after board members raised questions about volunteer training and oversight.

The board unanimously approved updates to Board Policy and Administrative Regulation 1240 on March 10. The policy encourages community involvement but draws firm boundaries around volunteer roles.

Under the policy:

• Volunteers support classroom and school activities but cannot replace paid staff
• They may not teach, assign grades or perform administrative duties
• They cannot be used in place of classified employees, including positions affected by layoffs
• Maintenance or campus projects must not displace regular staff work

The policy also emphasizes safety, supervision and accountability, allowing staff to remove volunteers who violate rules.

The revised administrative regulation, which is still pending final approval, outlines requirements for volunteers, including Tuberculosis clearance, fingerprinting through the Department of Justice (and FBI for overnight trips) and annual application renewals.

Officials confirmed volunteers are not eligible for workers’ compensation, prompting the board to remove that language from the regulation.

The district also plans to require volunteer training on mandated reporting, professional boundaries and sexual harassment prevention. Rather than listing exact training, the policy will reference “district-required” training to allow flexibility as laws change.

The board also backed more flexible language allowing volunteer hours to be limited as needed rather than setting strict caps, with oversight from site administrators and the district.

What they’re saying: District leaders stressed that volunteers will not replace employees, even as schools may depend on them more heavily.

“We are going into a school year next year where volunteers may be asked to help if we have less staff, and we have to really balance that,” Superintendent Juan Cabral said, noting the district will provide guidance to ensure rules are followed.

Board members also debated how much oversight is needed, particularly around volunteer hours, with some calling for additional checks while others warned against creating overly complex systems.

Moving forward: The administrative regulation governing volunteers will return for a second reading with revisions, including removing workers’ compensation language, updating training expectations and adjusting language on volunteer hours.

Cabral said additional guidance will be issued to schools ahead of the next academic year as they balance reduced staffing with likely increased reliance on volunteers.

The revisions come as districts statewide navigate how to maintain classroom support while complying with labor laws and student safety requirements.