IJOA-1
DAY FIELD TRIPS
Day field trips are those that end before midnight.
The Superintendent will establish regulations to assure that:
1. All students have parental permission for trips.
2. All trips are properly supervised.
3. All safety precautions are observed.
4. All trips contribute substantially to the educational program.
5. All insured transportation must be arranged by the sponsor. Chartered buses or some other form of public carrier represent the preferred mode of transportation. In the event private vehicles are driven by either school personnel volunteers or parent volunteer's indemnification against any potential claim for damages in excess of the individual's personal insurance coverage shall be provided by the School Committees' Commercial Auto Policy not less than $1,000,000. Vehicles driven by either parent volunteers or school personnel volunteers must be equipped with seat belts for each child transported.
6. Liability Coverage
a. The outside vendor (bus company/travel agent) responsible for the transportation of students must provide the school district in advance of trip approval by the School Committee a certificate of liability insurance. The school district shall be named as an additional insured on both the general liability and automobile policies.
b. Minimum coverage limits:
General Liability (commercial and contractual)
General Aggregate $2,000,000
Products-Comp Agg $2,000,000
Personal and Adv. Inquiry $2,000,000
Each Occurrence $2,000,000
Fire Damage (one fire) $50,000
Medical (one person) $5,000
Automobile Liability
§ Combined Single Limit $5,000,000
Inter-state Travel
§ General Liability $5,000,000
c. Transportation:
Safe, insured transportation must be arranged by the sponsor. Chartered buses or some otherorm of public carrier represent the preferred mode of transportation. In the event private vehicles are driven by either school personnel volunteers or parent volunteers acting on behalf of the school district, the personnel vehicle will be the primary coverage and subject to the district's commercial policy. Vehicles driven by either parent or school personnel volunteers must be equipped with seat belts for each child transported.
7. Travel Agent
If a travel agent is used is used to plan a trip, the travel agent shall provide proof of professional liability insurance and shall be noted as such on the certificate of liability coverage. Additionally, a travel agent shall be bonded to protect against loss of deposits paid by trip participants.
8. Student Supervision
a. Students shall be accompanied by a sufficient number of chaperones, taking into account the trip scheduling and logistics. All chaperones, including parents and volunteers, must have a CORI check in accordance with M.G.L c71 s.38R.
b. CORI checks shall be required for bus drivers who do not regularly work for the school district.
c. All participating students must submit a signed parent/guardian permission form. Such form shall include appropriate authorization for emergency medical care and administration of medication.
9. Pictures taken during a field trip by agents of the school district (i.e. - teachers, chaperones) shall not be made public without the expressed permission of the building administrators.
SOURCE: MASC
First Reading: 12/02/09 Second Reading: 12/02/09 ADOPTED: 12/02/09 Revised & Readopted: 3/26/19