FILE:  IFCB

Cf:  EDAE

 

FIELD TRIPS AND EXCURSIONS

 

 

The St. Martin Parish School Board recognizes that educational field trips and excursions for instructional purposes help provide desirable learning experiences.  The Superintendent has the responsibility for the development of administrative criteria governing field trips and excursions.  Only those field trips, however, that grow out of the instructional program or are otherwise related to the program are to be permitted on school time.  Other trips such as those involving band and athletic activities should be confined to non-school time, except where the school is engaged in competition or a contest that requires use of school time.

 

Teachers planning on conducting out-of-parish field trips or learning experiences shall submit, through the principal, a Field Trip Request in writing to the Superintendent or his/her designee for approval at least two (2) weeks prior to the field trip.  Before any trip or excursion is taken, written parental permission shall be secured for every pupil planning to take the trip.  Students who have not submitted signed parental permission forms shall not be allowed to make the trip.

 

Before approval of any field trip is given, it shall be determined whether the trip is covered by the School Board's liability insurance.  No travel shall be authorized where coverage cannot be secured prior to the trip commencing.  Except in extreme cases approved by the principal of the school, private vehicles shall not be used for transporting children on field trips.  Only buses, owned by or contracted to the school district, and driven by certified drivers shall be permitted, except as noted above.

 

The School Board does not endorse the use of private vehicles to transport students to and/or from interscholastic activities.  However, it recognizes the need for additional transportation at certain times; and the use of private vehicles may be utilized for the transportation of students to interscholastic activities provided that (1) students being thus transported provide the school with liability release forms signed by the students' parents/guardians; (2) all such vehicles are driven by properly licensed adults; and (3) the name of the driver, a copy of the driver's license, and proof of insurance coverage are provided the principal prior to the use of the private vehicle.

 

STUDENT EXCURSIONS

 

Whenever any student trip or excursion utilizes the services of a travel agent or booking agent to provide or arrange for transportation or lodging, the School Board shall require the travel agent or booking agent to provide proof of adequate insurance and present to the School Board a surety bond sufficient to insure recovery of all monetary advances as a result of nonperformance.

 

The amount of the bond shall be at least equal to any payments made to the travel agent agency or booking agent prior to the date of travel.  In addition, any bond issued shall be from a surety company licensed to do business in Louisiana and approved by the School Board.  A certified check from the travel agency covering the full amount of advanced payment may be accepted by the School Board, but only when a bond is not available.

 

Additional regulations governing field trips or excursions for students that involve travel or lodging may be maintained by the Superintendent and staff.

 

The principal of a junior high, middle school, or high school shall be prohibited from approving any field trip or extracurricular activity promoted by any individual, organization, or entity which plans, promotes, or organizes travel arrangements, unless the trip or activity is in accordance with all School Board and staff established criteria, and is covered by proper insurance and an acceptable surety bond.

 

PROCEDURES

 

Procedures for planning, securing approval of, and conducting field trips shall be as follows:

 

  1. The teacher and pupils will determine the need for the trip in the light of information needed for ongoing instruction.

  2. All trips must be approved first by the principal.

  3. The teacher must secure the written permission of parents for any trip that will take pupils off the school grounds.

  4. The teacher will make arrangements for transportation (see below).  If private cars are used, the owners must have liability insurance.

  5. The teacher will complete all plans for the trip, including written lesson plans, and for chaperones, time schedules and itinerary and have them approved by the principal.

  6. The teacher will assume responsibility for the supervision of students on the trip, assuring that student conduct meets standards set by the School Board.

  7. At the conclusion of a field trip, all students must return to the designated place as planned.  A student may not be dropped off along the way unless a parent is there to receive him/her and assume responsibility.

  8. The teacher will notify the principal immediately upon return of the class from the trip.

 

Limitation – Extra Bus Trips

 

  1. The St. Martin Parish School Board owned buses shall not travel outside the State of Louisiana, unless in emergencies or special permission by the St. Martin Parish School Board.

  2. The principal shall arrange for the bus and driver for all trips.  For field trips being conducted before 8:30 a.m. and/or after 2:30 p.m. on regular school days using School Board busses, approval shall be conditional on the availability of substitute bus drivers.

  3. Only regular, certified substitute drivers and other certified employees are permitted to drive school buses.

  4. Organized youth group related activities such as scouts, church organizations, parish recreational programs, will be allowed the use of school buses provided they are approved by the Supervisor of Transportation.

  5. Records of all extra trips shall be kept on file at the Central Office.

 

STUDENT CONDUCT ON SCHOOL-SPONSORED TRIPS

 

Students who go on off-campus trips sponsored by the school, whether during the school day or overnight, remain under the immediate jurisdiction of the school.  All trips must be approved by the building principals who will determine the number of sponsors necessary to properly chaperone the group.  In order to ensure behavior that will be a credit to the schools of St. Martin Parish and to each individual school community, the following regulations shall be in effect:

 

  1. On field trips there shall be:

 

    1. No alcoholic beverages

    2. No illegal drugs

    3. No smoking

    4. No profanity

 

  1. Students shall adhere to the School Board dress policy at all times.

  2. Sponsors shall have a right to enforce curfews on their group or on certain individuals within the group.

  3. Sponsors shall have a right to regulate when and where a student may go while on a trip.

  4. Sponsors shall have the right to refuse to take certain students on the trip who have demonstrated an unwillingness to cooperate.

  5. Unless a student leaves on a school-sponsored trip under the direct supervision of the school, the school shall not be responsible for the student.

 

Since student behavior on these trips reflects the integrity of the entire student body, punishment for irresponsibility, dishonesty, or immoral conduct should be accordingly severe.

 

Revised:  September, 2004

Revised:  June, 2014

 

 

Ref:     La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:81, 17:176.1

Board minutes, 4-2-14

 

St. Martin Parish School Board