I just have to vent somewhere, so here it goes.

Yesterday I got a phone call from the public elementary school and the receptionist asked me if I would volunteer to be a cashier at the book fair next week. I checked my schedule and told her I would be unable to help out this time because the next couple of weeks are absolutely crazy for me. She said "Okay, just let me know if anything changes." and I agreed to do so.

An hour later my cell phone rings and it is her again, saying they really need volunteers. I told her that my scheduled had not changed so I would still not be able to help out. Once again, she had me promise her that I would let her know if anything changes. I assured her that I would.

About 3 hours later she called my home phone again, this time telling me that there were still openings from 7-11 am and 4-7 pm. I was getting a little frustrated by this time so I told her exactly what I was doing so I would be unable to help her out. Dr. appointment at 8, dentist at 9:45, pick up the two oldest from school at 11:30, feed the kids, nap them, bake 10 dozen cookies for the kid's preschool bake sale, karate practice at 6, make supper, and put the kids to bed.

She then asked me if I could reschedule my appointments so I could work there?!

I finally told her no, my schedule WILL not change so I can volunteer at a book fair (at a school that my children don't even attend, they go to a parochial school--didn't say that part...) and that every time she calls for anything the answer is going to be no.

After hanging up, I start wondering where she got my cell number, since the only people that have it are close friends and family. I called the school and spoke to a different receptionist who told me they pulled the numbers off a form I filled out when I took my daughter in for preschool screening last year. I asked that receptionist to remove my cell number off of the paper and she told me she whited it off for me.

I understand that they need people to help out and if my schedule wasn't so crammed I certainly would've volunteered, but really, calling me three times in one day was ridiculous! There, vented and now I feel a little bit better.

__________________
I've had a Foreman Grill for about six years. I've done about 85% of my cooking on it, but I've never burnt myself. Probably because I don't use it as a pillow.

Huh? Your kids don't even go to this school and they want you to volunteer? That's pretty nervy on their part.

__________________
Cecilia

"We must love them both--those whose opinions we share and those whose opinions we reject. For both have labored in the search for truth, and both have helped us in the finding of it."
Saint Thomas Aquinas

wow..scarey too, since the school did not even do a background check on you ( not saying you're dangerous , but still..)

__________________
Live, Love, Laugh

I was thinking the same thing your kids dont even go to that school? wow she had alot of nerve calling you, and then pulling records to get a cell phone? that is creepy I would report that conduct to someone in charge that was just wrong.

__________________
Proud mom to 4 great boys Anthony20,Nicholas16,Michael4,Sean2

(1) They called you to volunteer at a school your children don't attend??

(2) Do a background check on a bookfair cashier??

Some days I feel like I need Scotty to beam me up.

Now, THAT made me LOL

YOu may laugh, but at my ds's last school ( private )..they had the volunteers do a background check before they could come to the school.

__________________
Live, Love, Laugh

I agree hon, no mean no, to call you 3 times in one day was rude. You told her you would offer to help if you could and that should have ended there.Sorry you had a bad experience. Peace. Catherine

That is nervy! I wonder if your name or number popped up again and they didn't realize they were calling the same person.. I would not have answered the phone the 2nd/3rd time though, when I can tell it's a 'solicitor' of any kind I just don't answer the phone, lol.

This is now a standard procedure for Florida schools with the new Jessica Lunsford Act. Every volunteer must submit to a very basic background check before volunteering at the school or chaperoning field trips.

__________________
Come and visit the gang at TLJ
PM me for info

When I volunteered at the school my sons used to go to.They did a background check.

What I don't understand is why you didn't make it clear from the first phone call that you have no children in that school and if you did have time ( if something changes) you would be using that time at your daughter's school. That pretty much would have stopped all subsequent calls.

Secondly, whatever form you used to give permission for the pre school screening certainly should not still be in the school. I would have thought it would be shredded or put in her file which should have been sent over to the new school.

__________________
Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent.

E. Roosevelt

I have no problem helping out at schools, hospitals, nursing homes, etc. though we may not be directly involved in them. I volunteer at my kids' school on a regular basis as well as organize fundraisers and charity events for the local hospital. I'm part of a play group that brings our kids to the local nursing home once every few months to visit with the residents and sing for them. I consider it a secondary part of my full time job, being a SAHM. Really, if didn't have such a crazy schedule I would've been happy to help out at the school. We live in a small community and I like to do my part since there are so many unwilling or unable to do theirs.

The first, and even second time, she called, I said no politely and firmly and told her I had other obligations. Third time's the charm, I guess. LOL

Yeah, I wondered about the paper for screening, evidently they hang on to it and in the spring they call everyone that has participated to kind of get a list of who is headed where for kindergarten (in our town we have a public elementary school, a Christian school --which my children attend--, and a Catholic school). DD is currently attending preschool so they have retained the papers for next spring's round of phone calls. Our school has an excellent preschool program, better than the other preschools in town (IMHO) and it isn't unusual for people to send their little ones to our school for preschool and the public school for kindergarten.

__________________
I've had a Foreman Grill for about six years. I've done about 85% of my cooking on it, but I've never burnt myself. Probably because I don't use it as a pillow.

LOl. I like that line.

I would hope that schools are doing background checks before letting people work around children. I don't think this is out of line at all. How easy for a perv to volunteer at a school and then follow some innocent into the bathroom. Shudder.

__________________
Raising my baby RIGHT!!!!!!

All the cool babies are wearing cloth!

I ran our school book fair for three years. I could never imagine bugging someone like that. I never had a problem getting volunteers, and If I did have to call, if they said they couldn't do it, I would look somewhere else.

Gessh that recept. had a lot of nerve!

__________________

Wow, what nerve of them! I completely agree that the first words out of your mouth should be "I'm sorry, but my children don't attend that school and any free time I have will be given to the school they do attend." Then hang up.

__________________

Reading is Fundamental.

That's bizarre! Calling people from outside the school to volunteer at a Book Fair??

I hope they've gotten the message. If they called me again, I'd write to the School Board and ask what the heck they are doing, and how they are protecting the kids if they are using outside volunteers.

That is irritating. Every month, I get phone calls on my home & cell phone trying to push me into a consolidation loan. I think the next time they call, I will request that they not call my cell phone for such foolishness. After all, I use my cell phone for emergencies, not to transact finances or other such business that I could perform at my home.

__________________
We're off to never never land