CRANSTON, R.I. -- A Cranston woman with a history of drug addiction is being allowed to volunteer at her daughter's school under a policy change that settles a lawsuit against the School Department, the Rhode Island affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union announced Thursday.
The School Department changed its 2009 volunteer policy early this month to eliminate drug and other criminal offenses as automatic disqualifications. Instead, the superintendent "may make a judgment" taking into account the date of conviction, rehabilitative efforts, community involvement, character references, experience with children, and "any other factors deemed relevant."
The change allowed Jessica Doyle, formerly Gianfrocco, to volunteer for a showing of "The Polar Express" at her daughter's school.
The ACLU accused the School Department of discriminating against Doyle on the basis of disability, namely her drug addiction. Doyle's addiction preceded her daughter's birth, the ACLU said, and since then she quit drugs and became a licensed chemical dependency professional.