FILE:  IFCB

FIELD TRIPS AND EXCURSIONS

The West Baton Rouge 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, as are trips as an approved award system for academic excellence.  Other trips such as those involving band and athletic activities shall be confined to non-school time, except where the school is engaged in competition, contest or other event that requires use of school time.

Teachers planning on conducting field trips or out-of-class learning experiences shall submit, through the principal, an application in writing to the Superintendent or designee for approval. Before any trip or excursion is taken, the written parental permission forms 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, the Superintendent or designee shall determine whether the trip is covered by the Board's liability insurance.  No travel shall be authorized where coverage cannot be secured prior to the trip commencing.  Only buses, owned by or contracted to the school district, and driven by certified bus operators shall be permitted. 

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 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 Board.  A certified check from the travel agency covering the full amount of advanced payment may be accepted by the 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 Board and staff established criteria, and is covered by proper insurance and an acceptable surety bond.

Revised:  October, 2001

Revised:  September, 2004

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

Board minutes, 8-15-01

West Baton Rouge Parish School Board