I'm not sure this is legal.....what do you think? - Page 3

wolfy999 · 06-22-2008, 11:01 AM

Where is Pru....???

Not Afraid · 06-22-2008, 11:27 AM

Psst, SL is also an attorney.

BDBopper · 06-22-2008, 11:50 AM

The private school my mom is the secretary for and that I volunteer with, The Special Needs Schools of Gwinnett has a very similar policy. Except that the fee for not doing your allotted time results in a lower fee (like 50 bucks). I will go ahead and say that parents who work at the school are covered because they are already doing their hours working for the school. If the Woflette's School is like ours (yes I am possesive of these wonderful kids I help out) than you should be fine.

While it seems that the school in question wants to cut costs and replace paid workers with volunteers the reasoning for doing the same at th Special Needs School is different. the aim of our game is to increase the bonds we have tiogether as a group. We really are a family of kindred spirits and go through the same things. It increases the sense of community. There really wasn't too much of a problem until tyhe school started getting a lot of new students because of the new vouchers for special needs children in the state of Georgia (a mell of a hess if you want my opinion on the matter...but that is another rant for another day)

Chernabog · 06-22-2008, 12:02 PM

If this were a public school, then I'd say, yeah there would be some serious legal issues.

But it isn't. Yeah it's crappy, but I'd bet that in the contract that is signed between you and the school, there is some sort of provision that you either have to abide by the policies of the Internal Board, or whatever. Or if it's a new contract signed every year, then they're basically saying "here are the terms, either you're agreeing to this by sending your kid here/signing the 2008-2009 contract, or you can find a different school." There may be an ethical issue here but I don't think there's a legal one.

Yeah, the school might be leaving itself open to liability issues by implementing this policy w/o doing background checks of the parents but again, you kid isn't being forced to go to the school either if you feel that uncomfortable with it.

wolfy999 · 06-22-2008, 12:29 PM

Thanks everyone....I guess if we want to keep Wolfette at the school we just have to volunteer our hours. If not, we lose the $150.00 deposit and put her into Public School.

OK, they win!

Alex · 06-22-2008, 02:06 PM

I have no direct experience but stuff like this seems to be pretty common among friends with kids in private schools.

The only part that seems questionable is requiring volunteer work from a paid employee.

wolfy999 · 06-22-2008, 02:11 PM

It does state in the letter "a family member", which would end up being my hubby if I'm not allowed to volunteer. He just doesn't have time, so another problem arises....!!

Chernabog · 06-22-2008, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolfy999

It does state in the letter "a family member", which would end up being my hubby if I'm not allowed to volunteer. He just doesn't have time, so another problem arises....!!

I came across as a bit harsh in my above post without intending to

However, I think that if the issue is "parent involvement" you can probably talk to them about your specific situation since you work at the school already. You're already involved, above and beyond the intent of the reason for having this PIP. However, if it's a situation where your regular paid work is forcing you to do volunteer work or risk getting ejected from your job (as opposed to, say just the $200), then that isn't kosher.

cirquelover · 06-23-2008, 11:05 AM

The school we were going to put Z in was the same way. They also had many other requirements that we decided it wasn't worth jumping through all their hoops after all.

Hopefully they will be willing to work with you, since you already work for them!

06-22-2008, 11:01 AM	#21
wolfy999 Eyes like Sapphires! Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 2.4 miles from Disneyland Posts: 1,523	Where is Pru....??? __________________ Diane "Honesty may be the best policy, but it's important to remember that apparently, by elimination, dishonesty is the second-best policy." - George Carlin 1937-2008 DISNEY IS FINALLY PAYING ME BACK......STILL OWES ME ABOUT (oh, wait....way too much)!
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06-22-2008, 11:27 AM	#22
Not Afraid HI! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 17,108	Psst, SL is also an attorney.
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06-22-2008, 11:50 AM	#23
BDBopper Not Taking Any Crap! Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Cleaning Up America, One Step At A Time! Posts: 1,694	The private school my mom is the secretary for and that I volunteer with, The Special Needs Schools of Gwinnett has a very similar policy. Except that the fee for not doing your allotted time results in a lower fee (like 50 bucks). I will go ahead and say that parents who work at the school are covered because they are already doing their hours working for the school. If the Woflette's School is like ours (yes I am possesive of these wonderful kids I help out) than you should be fine. While it seems that the school in question wants to cut costs and replace paid workers with volunteers the reasoning for doing the same at th Special Needs School is different. the aim of our game is to increase the bonds we have tiogether as a group. We really are a family of kindred spirits and go through the same things. It increases the sense of community. There really wasn't too much of a problem until tyhe school started getting a lot of new students because of the new vouchers for special needs children in the state of Georgia (a mell of a hess if you want my opinion on the matter...but that is another rant for another day) Last edited by BDBopper : 06-22-2008 at 11:55 AM.
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06-22-2008, 12:02 PM	#24
Chernabog Biophage Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: The Moon Posts: 2,679	If this were a public school, then I'd say, yeah there would be some serious legal issues. But it isn't. Yeah it's crappy, but I'd bet that in the contract that is signed between you and the school, there is some sort of provision that you either have to abide by the policies of the Internal Board, or whatever. Or if it's a new contract signed every year, then they're basically saying "here are the terms, either you're agreeing to this by sending your kid here/signing the 2008-2009 contract, or you can find a different school." There may be an ethical issue here but I don't think there's a legal one. Yeah, the school might be leaving itself open to liability issues by implementing this policy w/o doing background checks of the parents but again, you kid isn't being forced to go to the school either if you feel that uncomfortable with it. __________________ And they say back then our universe Was a coal black egg Until the god inside Burst out and from its shattered shell He made what became the world we know ~ Bjork (Cosmogony)
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06-22-2008, 12:29 PM	#25
wolfy999 Eyes like Sapphires! Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 2.4 miles from Disneyland Posts: 1,523	Thanks everyone....I guess if we want to keep Wolfette at the school we just have to volunteer our hours. If not, we lose the $150.00 deposit and put her into Public School. OK, they win! __________________ Diane "Honesty may be the best policy, but it's important to remember that apparently, by elimination, dishonesty is the second-best policy." - George Carlin 1937-2008 DISNEY IS FINALLY PAYING ME BACK......STILL OWES ME ABOUT (oh, wait....way too much)!
	Submit to Quotes

06-22-2008, 02:06 PM	#26
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	I have no direct experience but stuff like this seems to be pretty common among friends with kids in private schools. The only part that seems questionable is requiring volunteer work from a paid employee.
	Submit to Quotes

06-22-2008, 02:11 PM	#27
wolfy999 Eyes like Sapphires! Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 2.4 miles from Disneyland Posts: 1,523	It does state in the letter "a family member", which would end up being my hubby if I'm not allowed to volunteer. He just doesn't have time, so another problem arises....!! __________________ Diane "Honesty may be the best policy, but it's important to remember that apparently, by elimination, dishonesty is the second-best policy." - George Carlin 1937-2008 DISNEY IS FINALLY PAYING ME BACK......STILL OWES ME ABOUT (oh, wait....way too much)!
	Submit to Quotes

06-23-2008, 11:05 AM	#29
cirquelover Cruising around in my automobile... Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oregon Posts: 2,617	The school we were going to put Z in was the same way. They also had many other requirements that we decided it wasn't worth jumping through all their hoops after all. Hopefully they will be willing to work with you, since you already work for them!
	Submit to Quotes