IJOA

File: IJOA

FIELD & EDUCATIONAL TRIPS

The West Springfield School Committee recognizes that firsthand learning experiences provided by educational trips are an effective and worthwhile means of learning. Field trips are intended to allow students experiences that provide them with insight, information or knowledge that cannot be adequately developed through regular classroom instruction. Such field trips will be established within the regular curriculum of the school system and may be funded through the operating budget of the school system or through grants, fundraising, contributions from groups and organizations, foundations or through parent contributions. All trips financed through fundraising must have School Committee approval in advance of any fundraising (File: JJE-E).

Specific guidelines (Field & Educational Trips Guidelines: File IJOA-R) must be followed and shall ensure that all trips have the approval of the principal, the Superintendent and, if applicable, the Business Manager and/or the School Committee. The Superintendent will keep the School Committee informed, on a monthly basis, of all trips involving any West Springfield students.

The Superintendent will cancel any trip if there is a US State Department advisory against travel to that country or area, or if security and/or safety concerns over which the School District has no control render it appropriate to cancel the trip.

Accompanying the request for approval (Field & Educational Trip Request Form: File IJOA-E) must be information specifying those students who are participating and the basis for their participation. Those individuals responsible for the trip will submit a list to the medical personnel in a timely fashion so that provisions for any special medical problems and/or precautions can be provided. All chaperones must be on file with the principal’s office that they: have an acceptable CORI report as established by School Committee policy (within the last 3 years); have signed the Chaperone Policy Agreement (File: JLIAA) and that they have read and understand the Field & Educational Trips Guidelines (File: IJOA-R).

ANY AND ALL TRIPS THAT ARE TAKEN, INCLUDING DURING ANY SCHOOL VACATIONS THAT ARE SPONSORED, PLANNED AND/OR EXECUTED BY EMPLOYEES (INCLUDING COACHES) OF THE SCHOOL DEPARTMENT AND INVOLVE WEST SPRINGFIELD STUDENTS MUST FOLLOW THE SAME POLICY REGULATIONS AND SEEK PRIOR APPROVAL.

No student may participate in a field trip unless a signed permission slip (File: IJOA-EE) is received from the parent/ guardian PRIOR to the field trip.

West Springfield Public Schools (S.C. approved 10/1/12)