Volunteer Background Check
Volunteering for Forney ISD
In order to maintain a safe environment on all of our campuses, Forney ISD requires all individuals that will be serving as a volunteer or acting as a chaperone on field trips or school activities to undergo a background check prior to volunteering.
Individuals should allow a minimum of 5 business days for processing on all background checks and approvals.
In order to begin the volunteer and background check process, individuals must first review the Volunteer Training Slides and create an account in Virtuous Volunteer (VOMO) by joining Forney ISD’s Volunteer Hub at https://app.vomo.org/org/forney-isd.
Click here to initiate an email to complete your background check.
Join VOMO and the Volunteer Hub
After registering for Virtuous Volunteer, the district will initiate the background check by Sterling Volunteers. Please keep an eye on your email for this invitation from VOMO (be sure to check your spam folder). You may have to provide additional information to complete the background check and the process could take more than 5 business days. NOTE: The background check will automatically expire after 1 year.
Campus Visitors
For student safety, ALL visitors that come in contact with students are screened upon arrival through the RAPTOR system in the front office at each campus. All visitors attending campus events or lunch with their child must bring a valid government issued ID in order to be cleared through RAPTOR for access to the campus. If you are volunteering or assisting in the classroom with students, please follow the volunteer background check process.
Attending Field Trips
All individuals attending field trips with students will be required to obtain a VISITOR badge from the campus prior to attending the event. Please bring a valid government issued ID to the campus’s front office to be cleared through the RAPTOR system. If you have been assigned to chaperone on the field trip, you will need to complete the background check process before serving as a chaperone. Please follow the volunteer process previously stated for background checks.
Background Checks
Background checks are provided by Sterling Volunteers through the Virtuous Volunteer registration process. The background check process must be completed annually. Forney ISD has practices in place to keep any information submitted through the form or obtained through the criminal history check secure/confidential. Participants will be notified of their status once the background process has been completed. Those applying for approval may also check with a campus office to determine if their participation has been cleared/approved. In addition to the initial check, our background check provider will run monthly checks and provide us with any updates. If your approval status changes, you will be notified.
When do I need a background check versus using the Raptor system at the front office?
Not all volunteer events require a background check. If you are visiting a campus to see your own child/student, our front offices will ask for your photo ID and utilize our Raptor system. (For example, eating lunch with your child, picking them up for an appointment, attending a field trip with them but not chaperoning other children, etc.)
If you are supervising children, other than your own student, during school hours/events, then you may need a background check before volunteering. (For example, assisting with field day, chaperoning students on a field trip, etc.)
Questions regarding criminal history checks for volunteers, guests and participants, should be directed to Nick Edwards, Director of Staff and Family Services, mnedwards@forneyisd.net.