Volunteer Opportunities

 

We encourage a partnership between home and school to create a strong foundation for learning. To provide a layer of safety and support to the students of our district, we will begin an annual volunteer certification process. Even if you have volunteered in the past, you must recertify each school year. The Mentor Program certification process and volunteer process are two separate approvals.

 

All Unit 40 Schools use volunteers according to the needs of their buildings. Speak with your child's teacher to understand the volunteer opportunities in your specific building. Some of the most requested reasons for volunteers include: Field trips, Band Boosters, and Classroom volunteers - at the discretion of each teacher.

 

Families in the Effingham Unit 40 district will receive an email that has a volunteer certification LINK on Tuesday, August 18, 2026. If you desire to volunteer in the schools this school year, follow the detailed direction in the LINK to complete your volunteer certification and background check. Please note: ALL volunteers must recertify each year. Bushue Background Screening and Fingerprinting will maintain the background check process and information. 

 

Building secretaries will manage the approved volunteer list. Teachers will not have access to volunteer approvals. If an application is flagged, you will receive a letter in the mail informing of such. The Director of Security will make the final decision if a volunteer that has been flagged is cleared to be a volunteer, or if clearance is revoked. If you have additional questions, you can call the BOE office at 217-540-1500.