Victoria ISD invites local community chaplains and other faith-based or religiously affiliated persons interested in joining our crisis response initiative to contact us. This call to action aims to build a network of qualified volunteers ready to offer services to the district, our students, and staff during major crises. We are seeking to expand our network with individuals who are willing to be called upon during such times.
In February, during the regular monthly board meeting, the Victoria ISD Board of Trustees considered and took action regarding employment and volunteer policies in line with Senate Bill 763. The board reaffirmed the district's practice of permitting chaplains and other faith-based or religion-affiliated persons to apply for existing employment positions or volunteer opportunities within the district.
The district is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all students and staff, especially during a crisis or catastrophic event. To support this commitment, VISD is inviting community spiritual leaders to participate in our new volunteer application process.
Upon successful completion of the new chaplain volunteer application process, volunteers will be placed on a standby call list. These volunteers may be called upon to provide essential support and guidance to our students and staff during catastrophic events that impact the district and/or campuses, such as natural disasters, public health crises, security threats, or other determined events.
Applications can be found at www.VISD.net/volunteers.
While we celebrate the cooperative relationship with our community chaplains and other faith-based or religiously affiliated partners, their physical presence on our campuses and district property requires us to be diligent in our obligation to keep our students and staff safe at all times. For this reason, VISD requires that all individuals undergo criminal background checks prior to their presence on our campuses or other district sites. All Community Chaplains and other faith-based or religiously affiliated persons wishing to serve in this crisis response capacity will require initial fingerprinting and a national criminal history information record review. The Community Chaplains and other Faith-based or Religiously Affiliated Volunteer Application must be submitted at the beginning of each school year.
For additional application information or assistance, contact Deborah Rendon at 361-788-9909.
For more information regarding the crisis response services, contact Brandi Henke at 361-788-2891.
Victoria ISD is grateful for the dedication and willingness of our faith-based/religious-affiliated community members to lend their support during times of need. We thank you for your commitment to helping our students navigate through these challenging periods.