BOARD POLICY 6153
Field Trips
Recognizing the good which can result when students gather information firsthand, the Ironton City Board of Education supports and fosters this idea by permitting and encouraging well-planned and executed field trips. It is an established fact that within our area there are many places of considerable educational value, and trips thereto can do much to enrich the students’ background in such studies as the social and the pure sciences. Field trips can also add to the students’ appreciation of their historical inheritance.
Prudence and wisdom dictate that age, grade, weather conditions, and other such factors must govern the length and scope of field trips, and those in charge should take these factors into consideration when planning the trips. The safety and care of the students and of the vehicles should be primary and utmost concern.
Board-owned buses may be used in making these field trips, at no charge to the students involved. All trips using Board-owned buses shall be in compliance with the State laws and rules governing the use of vehicles for such trips.
The principal of the school involved shall make requests for all field trips to the Ironton City Superintendent of Schools who shall have the authority to approve or disapprove field trips by those in the Ironton City Schools.
The Ironton City Superintendent of Schools shall establish such Administrative Rules and Regulations as will fully implement this Policy.
“The Board of Education of any school district that owns and operates motor vehicles for transporting pupils may permit such vehicles to be used outside this State for any lawful purpose provided the entire distance traveled outside this State on any trip does not exceed two hundred forty miles.”
9-19-66
Rev. 1-12-81
Field trips are special trips, planned by teachers and principals for educational enrichment purposes. They are not to be confused with regularly scheduled scholarship, band, athletic, or other such trips which are a regular part of the yearly school program.
These procedures are to be followed for field trips when buses are used: the teacher (or group leader contacts the school principal for permission for the trip. If granted, the principal contacts the City Superintendent of Schools for approval. If granted the Superintendent issues a trip ticket and sends it to the transportation supervisor who secures the bus and driver.
The following are other requirements for field trips:
1. Only the bus driver licensed to drive buses and who are employed by the Ironton City School
system are to be used as drivers on field trips. These drivers are to be compensated on an hourly basis for this extra driving as per agreement with the School District.
2. Trips should generally be scheduled so as to not to interfere with the school system’s
transportation.
3. Trips should be limited to Ironton and Lawrence County, or a radius of twenty miles from
Ironton, unless special permission to granted by the Superintendent.
4. No student is to be permitted to take a field trip without a permission slip signed by his/her
parent or guardian.
5. A specific goal should be set for achievement on the trip, making the trip one for education,
not for recreation or pleasure.
6. Certain places should be avoided which might be dangerous or somewhat hazardous;
examples: lakes and rivers (drowning), factories and some industries (burns, etc.).
7. Trips must be properly chaperoned by teachers or adults in charge, in accordance with
the best practices of supervision.
8. Students should be briefed before the trips as to the proper attire, good manners, and
deportment. It should be a learning situation.
9. Under no circumstance will field trips be permitted in automobiles using students as
drivers. Any request for such permission will be flatly denied by the City Superintendent
of Schools.
10. Any field trip in which automobiles are used for transportation must come under a special
request to the Superintendent. This will call for a conference with the following participants:
the building principal, the teacher in charge, and all adults planning to drive. As a result of the conference, the Superintendent will pass judgment on the request. This Administrative Rule applies to trucks or any other means of transportation other than school buses.
9-19-66
Rev. 1-12-81