IJOA
LEVERETT SCHOOL COMMITTEE
FIELD TRIP POLICY
- It is the responsibility of the principal to approve all field trips. All out-of-state and/or overnight field trips must be approved by the Principal, Superintendent and School Committee
- All field trips shall be initiated by a teacher who will present the proposal for the field trip to the Principal for approval.
- The Principal, Superintendent and School Committee, shall take into consideration whether the proposed trip has an intrinsic educational component and whether it is adequately staffed by teachers.
- All trips off school property (includes only the playground and the adjacent field and woods area) whether on foot or by transport, are to be cleared with the Principal in advance of the trip and shall include signed permission slips by a parent/guardian of each student on the trip.
- Transportation for school approved field trips shall be in authorized vehicles contracted by the school district.
6. Policies and procedures for trip approval should take into account fundraising required of students.
a. The amount of time to be devoted to fundraising should be minimal and commensurate with the obligations of students for homework and after-school activities.
b. Group fundraising activities are preferred. Students shall not be assigned individual fundraising targets.
c. If students are charged individual fees for participation, the Principal and School Committee
shall provide scholarships where needed.
7. Type of Trips Covered: These rules apply to all trips sponsored by the school, educational or recreational, inside or outside the school day.
8. Number of Trips Permitted: The total number of trips made at school expense is not to exceed the number for which sums have been budgeted. No specified number of trips is allotted to any teacher.
9. Destinations: Adequate planning should be done to ensure that arrangements are complete. Children should be involved in the planning to the extent that classroom teachers deem advisable. Bus trips may be made only to points at which safe and adequate unloading, loading and parking areas are definitely arranged for in advance and universal access and facilities are provided.
10. Application: Each teacher contemplating a trip is to confer with the Principal for clearance before any arrangements are made. The Principal has the responsibility for budget authorization. After securing the Principal's provisional approval, the teacher is to get the permission of an official of the institution or point of interest to bring a group for a visit. The Principal has the responsibility to approve the proposed trip and arrangements for transportation once the plans are complete.
11. Changes:
A. When plans for an approved trip change for any reason, the Principal is to be notified as soon as possible.
B. The Principal, the School Committee and/or the Superintendent of Schools reserve the right to deny and to exercise judgment to cancel field trips that they have previously approved, if any one of them (the Principal, the Committee, and/or Superintendent) deems that existing conditions could place students in the district in serious jeopardy.
12. Permission Slips: As a part of sound planning, a permission slip for each child must be sent to the parents/guardians for approval. Under no condition should a child be permitted to leave the school grounds without permission of the parent or guardian. Each trip will require separate written permission. Each notice to the parents/guardians is to explain in detail the nature of the trip, the specific activities to be done, the manner of travel, the times of each trip, and a statement that parents/guardians have the right to deny permission for their child.
Supervision of Students: At least one member of the school professional staff must attend and manage each trip. Also, an adult or adults approved by the Principal may accompany each group. Trips must provide for one adult per eight students as a minimum. State Law requires all individuals who have direct and unsupervised contact with children to have an approved CORI background check and fingerprints on file. All chaperones on field trips shall receive appropriate training following guidelines established by the Principal in collaboration with the teacher.
- Coordination of Overnight Field Trips: In recognition of the additional responsibilities that overnight field trips may entail, a special extracurricular staff position has been created.
14. Students Requiring Medications or Medical Accommodations: Students should not be prohibited or prevented from attending field trips due to their need for medication or medical accommodations. The School Nurse must be notified at least two weeks in advance of a field trip in order to have the time necessary to prepare the required medical permission slips. The School Nurse, or his/her designee, will take responsibility for the First Aid Backpack which will include the medical permission slips, emergency contact information and required medications of the students on each individual field trip.
15. Drivers are authorized to discontinue the trip and return to the point of departure when, in their judgment, continuation of the trip would seriously endanger the passengers
16. Cost to Professional Staff: All legitimate expenses (except meals) of teachers accompanying pupils on approved field trips will be reimbursed from the school budget.
17. Exceptions: Exceptions to these rules may be permitted only by the Superintendent of Schools.
Approved 12/02/03; First reading 12-04-07
Second reading, first vote: 01-08-08
Final vote: 02-05-08
Approved at Policy Committee meeting: 10-6-14
LSC Approved: 11-03-14