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isaacfawlkes Loyal user FL 256 Posts |
Everyone who wants to perform school shows in the state of Florida needs to be aware of the Jessica Lunsford Act that took effect in September.
Anyone who has contact with students in the state of Florida must have a level 2 security clearance check done with each school district. This means you must go in person to the school district, get fingerprinted, pay a fee of up to $150 and wait at least 3 days to get clearance. This must be done in each school district. It must also be done in person. For those of us that travel nationwide, it is a major problem. I must come into Florida a week early and pay hundreds of dollars just to be able to work. It was ordered by the state but is the responsabilty of each school district and there is not statewide system. Has anyone else encountered this? And how did you deal with it? Thanks. Fawlkes |
Lyndel Inner circle wrote the theme to the TV show COPS! 1623 Posts |
Fawlkes,
Yes, I am keenly aware of this little problem. Make that a big problem. I am in the process of considering giving up the school market because of the added expenses. I just don't think it's going to be worth the money or time spent obtaining the level 2 clearance. If I do decide to continue to do school gigs, I may actually pass the cost on to the first school in each district that books me. (not really fair to that particular school, but with the cost of insurance, license, and oh, let's not forget gasoline, you gotta do what you gotta do to turn a profit). Lyndel |
jimgerrish Inner circle East Orange, NJ 3209 Posts |
Don't panic: do some research. My source: http://www.browardschools.com/info/lunsford.htm
Guest Speakers / Fundraisers / Community Organizations / Career Day Speakers / College Sport Recruiters / Transportation to Private Facilities / Organizations Contracted by the PTA (and I assume that would include magicians and other performers). Individuals falling into these categories only require a Level 1 screening. Level 1 screening includes checking the name of the individual against the sexual predator and local criminal database. Steps for this process are as follows: All guest speakers who volunteer their time at a school do not need to be fingerprinted. This includes Career Day speakers. The mechanism for district wide speaker clearance is under development. Schools will be informed of this process when it is completed. Individuals from community organizations (i.e. social service agencies) that are not under contract by the school board for services performed at schools do not need to be fingerprinted. However, if the person from the organization has one-on-one contact with a student, then they will need to be fingerprinted. Any fundraisers wishing to sell/solicit items at any school do not have to be fingerprinted. Companies selling T-shirts to personnel do not need to be fingerprinted. Drivers from transportation companies that are hired by a parent to transport students to private facilities (i.e. ARC and TOPS) do not need to be fingerprinted. College Sport Recruiters do not need to be fingerprinted. Groups contracted by the PTA to perform an on-site program (e.g.; carnival, performing artist) do not need to be fingerprinted. Steps for securing a Level 1 screening The school must have the individual in question complete a volunteer application and enter volunteer data into the electronic volunteer screening system. (For questions about accessing this system, please call Volunteer Services 754-321-2040.) Please note that volunteers that have completed the volunteer application can be approved by the principal and work in a supervised setting until final clearance from SIU has been issued. The above-mentioned groups do not need an official School Board badge and may not have unsupervised contact with students. They must obtain standard visitor badges given by the designated school where they will be stationed. Now, go to the blackboard and write 100 times "I must not post panic messages at the Magic Café until AFTER I have done my homework and verified my sources."
Jim Gerrish
magicnook@yahoo.com https://www.magicnook.com Home of The Wizards' Journals: https://magicnook.com/wizardsTOC.htm |
isaacfawlkes Loyal user FL 256 Posts |
That may be the case in Broward but it is not the case in at least 8 other counties in the state of Florida. I have been contacted and received letters from Palm Beach, Jacksonville, Ft Meyers, Sarasota, and on and on and they all require level 2 clearence. The law is not standard statewide it was left up to the district. This is the problem. Also, the districts that I have been it touch with do not share info with other disticts. The also get to set their own price (Palm Beach is over $80.00.)
I have had to add the cost to my shows, not just the first one in a district. Costs continue to spiral. Good luck BTW this is not a panic message. I have spent many hours researching this major hurdle to my business. I do this for a living so I have to make myself aware of the pitfalls. Homework is done and sources CONFIRMED. Thanks Fawlkes |
flourish dude Inner circle from ? But I know where I am going! 1195 Posts |
Wonder how long before other states pick up on this?
Nothing of the same will bring any change, take action today!
Just taking a step, is a step in the right direction because when you stop working, your dream dies. www.magicalmemories.us |
kenscott Inner circle 1869 Posts |
I can't see it lasting. This will effect schools in the way that people do business with them. Eventually people will decide it is not worth doing business with them and they will have to come up with a better plan.
Sounds to me that counties see this as a way to make money?? Ken |
Lyndel Inner circle wrote the theme to the TV show COPS! 1623 Posts |
Ken,
I don't know if it will last... Perhaps they'll go to a state wide system. The intention of the new law is indeed noble, but the law severely challenges people who make a living doing school programs full time. If one were to book a single show in a particular county 200-300 miles away, he or she would have to first drive there weeks ahead of time and pay the prescribed fees to make a marginal paycheck after you consider the trouble it would be worth to jump through all the hoops. Just not a large enough ROI in my opinion... I think I'll continue to pursue corporate work... Or maybe school shows in Georgia. :winker: Kidding. Lyndel Lyndel |
The Mighty Fool Inner circle I feel like a big-top tent having 2140 Posts |
Does this level-2, fingerprint-stuff go for daycare performances as well?
Everybody wants to beleive.....we just help them along.
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Lyndel Inner circle wrote the theme to the TV show COPS! 1623 Posts |
Mighty Fool,
As far as I know, privately owned daycares are exempt from the law. Lyndel |
Mr.Wizard New user 69 Posts |
They sure love to play "gotcha" here don't they?
Snide comments aside, this is a serious issue and EVERY district is "doing their own thing". I know because I go to Florda between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and I am having the EXACT same problems, or more correctly the agency is. They called me this week and told me exactly what Fawlkes has said. Frankly, this is silly. We just went through this in the Judo world, and one would think that central clearance, which they can access, is fine. I most likely, will cancel Florida rather than deal with this. |
John C Eternal Order I THINK therefore I wrote 12945 Posts |
Quote:
On 2005-10-21 12:18, Lyndel wrote: ?? Doesn't seem to be that much of an expense considering what we can make in the school market and considering we have no other expenses really. John |
isaacfawlkes Loyal user FL 256 Posts |
If you live outside of Fl and have to personally go to each county in the state that you wish to workover a week before the show, pay between $75 to $150 per district the price is very high. It is worth the effort but it is poorly set up by the state.
BTW if you have found a way to contact, book and perform at schools for a good fee while incuring no other expense please share it with the group. Fawlkes |
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