The Governing Board recognizes that field trips, when used for teaching and learning integral to the curriculum, are an educationally sound and important ingredient in the instructional program of the schools. Properly planned and executed field trips should:

For purposes of this policy, a field trip shall be defined as any planned journey by one or more students away from Center premises, which is an integral part of a course of study and is under the direct supervision and control of a professional staff member or any advisor as designated by the Superintendent.

Other Center-sponsored trips shall be defined as any planned, student-travel activity which is approved as part of the Center's total educational program and is under the direct supervision and control of a professional staff member or any advisor as designated by the Superintendent.

School personnel shall not accept any form of compensation from vendors that might influence their recommendation on the eventual selection of a location for, or a vendor that will provide transportation to, a field or other center-sponsored trip. Furthermore, school personnel shall not accept any compensation from a vendor after a decision has been made regarding the location for, or a vendor that will provide transportation to, a field or other Center-sponsored trip. In addition, school personnel who recommended the location for, or a vendor that will provide transportation to, a field or other center-sponsored trip shall not enter into a contractual arrangement whereby an individual staff member receives compensation in any form from the vendor that operates the venue for, or provides the transportation to, a field or other Center-sponsored trip for services rendered.

Such compensation includes, but is not limited to, cash, checks, stocks, or any other form of securities, and gifts such as televisions, microwave ovens, computers, discount certificates, travel vouchers, tickets, passes, and other such things of value. In the event that a school staff member receives such compensation, albeit unsolicited, from a vendor, the staff member shall notify the Treasurer, in writing, that s/he received such compensation and shall thereafter promptly transmit said compensation to the Treasurer at his/her earliest opportunity.

The Board shall approve those field trips and other Center-sponsored trips which are planned to keep students out of the Center overnight except that prior Board approval is not required for overnight trips related to extracurricular competitions that arise at a time when no Board meetings are scheduled prior to the date of the trip.

The Superintendent shall approve all other such trips. The Superintendent may approve overnight trips related extracurricular competitions that arise at a time when no Board meetings are scheduled prior to the date of the trip.

Students will not be charged for the cost of transportation to and from educational field trips on school days. Students may be assessed the cost for transportation to and from educational field trips on non-school days.

Students may be charged fees, including, but limited to, admission fees, for Center-sponsored trips.

Students on all Center-sponsored trips remain under the supervision of this Board and are subject to the Center's administrative guidelines.

The Board does not endorse, support, or assume liability in any way for any staff member, volunteer, or parent of the Center who takes students on trips not approved by the Board or Superintendent. No staff member may solicit students of this Center for such trips within the facilities or on the school grounds of the Center without permission from the Superintendent. Permission to solicit neither grants nor implies approval of the trip. Such approval must be obtained in accordance with the Center's Administrative Guidelines for Extended Trips.

The Superintendent shall prepare administrative guidelines for the operation of both field and other Center-sponsored trips.

In any instance in which the itinerary of a trip is altered, the professional staff member in charge shall notify the administrative superior immediately.

School vehicles are not to be used in the entire distance traveled round trip from the point of exit and entry of the State is more than 240 miles.

R.C. 3327.15
A.C. 3301-83-12, 3301-83-16(A)(B)(E)
Auditor of State Bulletin 2000-006