A new Pennsylvania state law requires all public and private school volunteers to obtain background checks. Under amendments to the state Child Protective Services law, all teachers, staff, administrators, contractors and volunteers who come into contact with students must obtain a Criminal Background check and a Child Abuse clearance every 36 months, effective Dec. 31, 2014.

Since we require all our families to serve in some capacity, from chaperoning field trips to completing service hours, we asking all families to complete their clearances. All volunteers will be required to submit the afore-mentioned clearances prior to service at ODCA. Pennsylvania state officials have enacted this law in response to the tragic events that occurred at The Pennsylvania State University. We support this extra measure of safety and of course, desire to follow the law. Therefore, we are asking our parent volunteers to attain the required clearances.

We appreciate the help of our parent volunteers and pray that the new requirements do not deter any one of you in supporting the ministry of ODCA as you have done so faithfully in the past. In support of parent volunteers, Governor Corbett has made these clearances free of charge to you for a limited time.

If you have any questions, please contact Lisa Thomas in the school office. Please note that clearances must be submitted to the school office prior to your service. Parents without clearances WILL NOT be able to participate in school events. If you already have these clearances through service with a church or other volunteer organization, please just make a copy and submit them to the school office. We have several events coming up quickly and this is why we ask for you to get these to us as soon as possible. Please use this website http://keepkidssafe.pa.gov/ as it might help answer some of your concerns.

Respectfully,

ODCA Administration