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Policy 610 - Field Trips

I. PURPOSE

The purpose of this policy is to provide guidelines for student trips and to identify the general process to be followed for review and approval of trip requests.

II. GENERAL STATEMENT OF POLICY

It is the general expectation of the school board that all student trips will be well planned, conducted in an orderly manner and safe environment, and will relate directly to the objectives of the class or activity for which the trip is requested. Student trips will be categorized within three general areas:

  1. Instructional Trips
    Trips that take place during the school day, relate directly to a course of study, and require student participation shall fall in this category. These trips shall be subject to review and approval of the building principal, and shall be financed by school district funds within the constraints of the school building budget. Fees may not be assessed against students to defray direct costs of instructional trips. (Minn. Stat. § 123B.37, Prohibited Fees)
  2. Supplementary Trips
    This category pertains to those trips in which students voluntarily participate and which usually take place outside the regular school day. Examples of trips in this category involve student activities, clubs, and other special interest groups. These trips are subject to review and approval of the activities director and/or the building principal. Financial contributions by students may be requested. (Minn. Stat. § 123B.36, Authorized Fees)
  3. Extended Trips
    1. Trips that involve one or more overnights stops fall into this category. Extended trips may be instructional or supplementary and must be requested well in advance of the planned activity. The request procedure will include approval for extended field trips from the principal, activities director, superintendent and school board. Exemptions to this policy include teams/individuals advancing through MSHSL tournament play or in cases where a group/individual advance as a result of winning an official school activity or competition.
    2. The school board acknowledges and supports the efforts of booster clubs and similar organizations in providing extended trip opportunities for students.
III. REGULATIONS
  1. Rules of conduct and discipline for students and employees shall apply to all student trip activity.
  2. The school administration shall be responsible for providing more detailed procedures, including parental involvement, supervision, and such other factors deemed important and in the best interest of students.
  3. Transportation shall be furnished through a commercial carrier or school-owned vehicle.
  4. An employee may use a personal vehicle to transport staff or personal property for purposes of a field trip upon prior, written approval from administration.
  5. An employee must not use a personal vehicle to transport one or more students for purposes of a field trip.
    1. If immediate transportation of a student is required due to an emergency or unforeseen circumstance, such as the illness or injury of a child, and the transportation does not constitute regular or scheduled transportation, a personal vehicle may be used. To the extent a personal vehicle is used, the vehicle must be properly registered and insured.
    2. An employee must obtain approval by administration of student transportation by a personal vehicle, pursuant to Section III.E.1, if practicable. If pre approval by administration of use of a personal vehicle cannot be obtained in a reasonable time given the circumstances, an employee shall report the relevant facts and circumstances justifying the need for use of a personal vehicle to administration as soon as practicable. The relevant facts and circumstances for use of a personal vehicle shall be documented by administration.
IV. SCHOOL BOARD REVIEW

The superintendent shall at least annually report to the school board upon the utilization of trips under this policy.

V. EXEMPTION

All non-curricular extended field trips shall operate through Community Education and shall be exempt from item C under General Statement of Policy (seeking School Board approval and following policy 510). Community Education extended field trips must meet the following criteria:

  1. Be recreational in nature.
  2. Be accessible to multi-age groups.
  3. Be conducted outside of school day hours.
  4. Follow all other Policy 510 regulations.
  5. Be subcontracted through a certified second party travel company.
  6. Be set up through Community Education and follow Princeton Public Schools Community Education Field Trip Procedures.

Legal References:

  • Minn. Stat. § 123B.36 (Authorized Fees)
  • Minn. Stat. § 123B.37 (Prohibited Fees)
  • Minn. Stat. § 123B.49 (Cocurricular and Extracurricular Activities; Insurance)
  • Minn. Stat § 169.011. Subd. 71(a) (Definition of a School Bus)
  • Minn. Stat § 169.454 Subd. 13 (Type III Vehicle Standards-Exemption)
  • Sonkowsky v. Board of Educ. for Indep. Sch. Dist. No. 721, 327 F.3d 675 (8th Cir. 2003)
  • Lee v. Pine Bluff Sch. Dist., 472 F.3d 1026 (8th Cir. 2007)

Cross References:

Adopted: August 23, 1983
Revised: January 12, 1999
Revised: August 9, 2005
Revised: December 8, 2009
Revised: March 11, 2010
Revised: October 26, 2010
Revised: October 25, 2011
Revised: October 21, 2014
Revised: October 20, 2015
Revised: January 17, 2017
Revised: February 6, 2018
Revised: October 16, 2018
Revised: September 17, 2019
Reviewed: November 17, 2020