Volunteering for Ector County ISD has changed to a more campus based approach.
The process used to be centralized through the Volunteers in Partners office at the administration building.
The software also has changed from Volley to Hall Pass, a volunteer records management system.
Mark W. Mobley is the owner/founder of Hall Pass. Mobley is an ECISD graduate going from elementary through Permian High School.
Hall Pass is used throughout ECISD and at Medical Center Hospital and Compass Academy Charter School. The company has schools in all 50 states.
Analee Tarango, a parent-community engagement specialist in the ECISD Development Office, said volunteers are extremely important.
“The campus already has great people working for them, but they’re that extra hand and they’re doing this on a volunteer basis. That means they want to be there,” Tarango said.
Sarah Aguirre, a parent-community engagement specialist, said many volunteers have become district employees.
Tarango said volunteer opportunities are created through the campuses now because they know what their needs are.
“All we do is get the data and distribute the data because that’s the one thing they don’t have access to,” Aguirre said.
For example, the office can generate data monthly showing volunteers that are interested in being involved in things like book fairs or field days.
If they want to be contacted, they add it in there and if they don’t they remove them, Aguirre said.
Aguirre and Tarango each have 21 campuses.
“Each month we generate that report to them saying these are the names of the people and they’re available and they would like to volunteer on your campus. Based on the opportunities they have available, (the campus) will contact them,” Tarango said.
When the volunteers are approved, Aguirre said she sends a welcome letter.
“It’s a template that I created and it basically what’s next just so there’s no confusion,” Aguirre said.
The volunteer will be contacted by the campus. There will be a link to the video of how to check in, such as holding your driver’s license up to the door.
Campuses determine how to indicate that they are a volunteer by a lanyard or a sticky badge. They mostly get sticky badges.
“When we first started this back on July 1 when it launched, both of us went out to our own campuses and trained them individually on certain highlights of Hall Pass and gave them our information, so that way if they had any questions they could call our office,” Tarango said.
Aguirre said everyone has access to who is approved to volunteer. Hall Pass shows them when the volunteer’s background check expires.
On the Development Office website, find “volunteers” and you go under community, volunteers, click on the Hall Pass logo and it will take you to a volunteer application.
Aguirre said you find out fast if you’re approved to volunteer.
She added that there have been a lot of tweaks and it includes a thorough background check.
With the previous system people were just approved.
“It’s amazing. We’re very appreciative of what Hall Pass has done for us,” Aguirre said.
They have volunteers who approach the Development Office first, or do it online and then they notify the campuses monthly of new volunteers.
Volunteers have to reapply every two years.
The application asks if they are part of a PTA, PTO or booster club. That way they can contact the volunteer and see if they’re interested. Volunteers also get a heads-up that someone from one of those groups will be contacting them.
Peak times are right before winter break and field days.
“There’s days you get 10; there’s days you get 50,” Tarango added.
Aguirre and Tarango wear multiple hats. They have grant writing workshops and CPR certification, for example.
“It varies. We’re both in the community with parents. We’re on campuses or doing administrative work.
They also offer consultations on how to operate PTO, PTA and booster clubs successfully. A lot of people may wind up in higher positions than they planned after just wanting to help with snacks.
Aguirre said they offer a “how to” and offer them guidelines and resources.
“I’m not telling you what to do, but … giving you guidance and then you determine with your board how y’all (are) going to operate,” Aguirre said.
They also keep the Little Free Libraries stocked.
For more information, call the Development Office at 432-456-7059.
