FILE: IFCB
Cf: EDAE
FIELD TRIPS AND EXCURSIONS
The Acadia 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 or out-of-state field trips or learning experiences shall submit, through the principal, an application in writing to the Superintendent or his/her designee for approval. Before any trip or excursion is taken, written parental permission shall be secured for every student 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. Schools are expressly prohibited from using passenger vans with a seating capacity of ten (10) or more under any circumstance to transport students regardless of who owns or leases it. Only buses owned by or contracted to the school district and driven by certified operators shall be permitted, except as noted below.
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) the principal has obtained permission from his/her immediate supervisor, 2) students being thus transported provide the school with liability release forms signed by the students' parents/guardians, 3) all such vehicles are driven by properly licensed adults 21 years of age and above, 4) the name of the driver, a copy of the driver’s license and proof of current insurance is provided the principal prior to use of the private vehicle, and 5) students are required to wear seat belts when being transported in such vehicle.
FIELD TRIP FEE SCHEDULE
Fees for out-of-town field trips shall be set at a flat rate of $60.00 per bus plus $1.75 per mile. Fees for in-town field trips shall be set at a flat rate of $60.00 per bus. These fees shall include the destination and one additional stop per trip. If other stops are scheduled, an additional $15.00 fee shall be charged per stop.
OTHER STUDENT EXCURSIONS
Any student or group of students representing any school in the Acadia Parish School System in an out-of-parish function or event must be accompanied by a responsible adult or adults approved by the principal of the school. If there is any doubt as to whether the function or event is school-sponsored, the principal shall consult the Superintendent for guidance and approval.
Out-of-state field trips may be permitted only with the consent of the Superintendent of the Acadia Parish School Board. The principal of the school seeking such permission shall submit a written request to the Superintendent. Written approval or denial shall be provided upon the Superintendent's review of the request.
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.
SELECTION OF operatorS FOR FIELD TRIPS
When requests for field trips or other learning experiences are submitted to the principal and approved, a bus operator shall be selected to drive the bus on the field/activity trip. Field/ activity trips which conflict with a bus operator's regular bus route shall require written permission of the Superintendent or designee in order for the regular bus operator to drive on a field/activity trip. In such instances, a spare bus that is properly insured by the School Board and driven by an approved substitute bus operator shall be secured to cover the regular route. Regular bus operators who drive on a field/activity trip may be required to take an approved leave of absence for which qualified (personal leave, leave without pay).
Revised: September, 2004
Revised: December 8, 2014
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:81, 17:176.1
Board minutes, 6-6-94, 9-9-96, 1-6-97, 9-11-00, 12-4-00, 4-5-04, 12-8-14
Acadia Parish School Board