FILE: IFCB
FIELD TRIPS AND EXCURSIONS
The Bossier 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.
Only those students in good standing, in regular membership in a given school, shall be permitted to go on school-sponsored trips. The parents of any student ineligible to participate in any field trip shall be notified at least one (1) day prior to the scheduled trip. The notification shall include the reasons the child is ineligible for the trip.
Teachers planning on conducting school-sponsored field trips or learning experiences requiring the use of school buses shall submit, through the principal, a completed Trip Request Form to the Superintendent or his/her designee for approval at least two (2) weeks prior to the scheduled trip. The destination, estimated departure time and estimated arrival at school on the return trip shall be included in the application submitted. Cancellations shall be made no later than five (5) days in advance of the scheduled field trip. 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 or excursion 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 operators shall be permitted, except as noted above. The principal or Supervisor of Transportation shall assign times for any approved field trip.
Ordinarily, only school buses belonging to the School Board and driven by certified operators shall be used for field trips or other excursions. The School Board discourages 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.
REGULATIONS
To ensure that field trips support the instructional program and to provide for the safety and benefit of the student population, the following regulations shall be recognized:
Trips shall be limited to one (1) two-day trip during school days for dance teams, cheerleaders, band and other groups.
Trips shall not be scheduled the week before or during criterion-referenced or norm-referenced testing or during make-up days for these tests.
School Board approval shall be required if a trip is overnight or out of state.
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.
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. ยงยง17:81, 17:176.1
Bossier Parish School Board