West Clermont Local School District
Bylaws & Policies
 

2340 - FIELD AND OTHER DISTRICT-SPONSORED TRIPS

The Board of Education recognizes that field trips are an educationally sound and important ingredient in the instructional program of the schools. Properly planned and executed field trips should:

 A.supplement and enrich classroom procedures by providing learning experiences in an environment outside the schools;

 B.bring the resources of the community - natural, artistic, industrial, commercial, governmental, educational - within the student's learning experience.

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

Other District-sponsored trips shall be defined as any planned, student-travel activity which is approved as part of the District'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 district-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 District-sponsored trip. In addition, school personnel who recommended the location for, or a vendor that will provide transportation to, a field or other district-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 District-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 District-sponsored trips which are planned to keep students out of the District overnight or longer or out of the State, except that prior Board approval is not required for overnight trips related to athletic contests and other 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 to athletic contests and other 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 not limited to, admission fees, for District-sponsored trips but no student shall be denied participation for financial inability, nor shall nonparticipation be penalized academically.

Students on all District-sponsored trips are subject to the District's policies.

The Board does not endorse, support, or assume liability in any way for any staff member, volunteer, or parent of the District who takes students on trips not approved by the Board or Superintendent. No staff member may solicit students of this District for such trips within the facilities or on the school grounds of the District 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 District's Administrative Guidelines for Extended Trips.

For both field and other District-sponsored trips, including athletic trips, parental permission is sought and obtained before any student leaves the District on a trip.

Field and other District-sponsored trips are to be properly planned, integrated with the curriculum, evaluated, and followed up by appropriate activities which enhance its usefulness.

The effectiveness of field trip activities is judged in terms of demonstrated learning outcomes.

Each trip is properly monitored.

 A.Student behavior while on all field trips shall comply with the Student Code of Conduct.

 B.A copy of each student's Emergency Medical Authorization Form is to be in the possession of the staff member in charge of the trip, and provisions have been made for the administration of medication to those students for whom medications are administered routinely while at school.

 C.Provisions shall be made at the trip destination and in transportation, if and when required, to accommodate students and/or chaperones with disabilities.

A professional staff member shall not change a planned itinerary while the trip is in progress, except where the health, safety, or welfare of the students in his/her charge is imperiled.

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 if 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

© Neola 2007