School transportation may be used in connection with the operation and support of extracurricular and school-sponsored activities upon approval of the superintendent or designee. The determination of whether district-owned or contractor-owned school buses or vehicles will be used for transportation to and from extracurricular or school-sponsored activities will be made solely by the district. Such decisions will include, but are not limited to, the decision to provide transportation, the persons to be transported, the vehicles to be used, transportation scheduling, and any other necessary arrangements applicable to the particular trip. Only students, teachers and other adults appointed as a chaperone for the trip by the building principal, teacher/coach, or other designee may ride the bus to or from an activity. The building principal or designee may give permission for non-students to ride the bus in exceptional circumstances when space is available.
District employees may make transportation arrangements when directed or approved to do so by the superintendent, building principal, or designee. Employees approved to make transportation arrangements shall notify the superintendent, building principal or other designee of all confirmed transportation arrangements. A copy of the passenger list and trip details must be left with the building principal or designee prior to departure. District employees shall not use a personal vehicle to transport students without prior approval. A use charge will be charged against the activity or sponsoring student-group requesting the transportation.
Request forms must be turned into the bus supervisor 5 days prior to the activity or a $20 per day fine will be assessed to any group that does meet the requirement. Exception to the fine may be due to extenuating circumstances such as a snow day or a re-scheduled event, etc. All rules must be followed as outlined on the yellow school bus request form before the bus leaves the school.
Eating and drinking will be permitted on activity trips under the following conditions:
The responsibility of clean up rests with the teacher or chaperon. If the bus is returned dirty, the service attendant will clean the bus, and the participating organization will be charged for clean-up time at $20 per hour.
School buses or other vehicles used for activity busing will be in safe mechanical condition. No school buses or other vehicles will be operated, loaded, or equipped in such a way as to constitute a hazard to the safety of the students being transported. School bus emergency egress systems shall remain operable, and the bus aisle shall remain clear of obstruction while students are being transported.
The district will maintain accurate records of all activity trips in all school buses and non-conforming vehicles used in the transportation of students and transportation personnel, including the purposes of the trip, mileage and operation, and vehicle maintenance costs. An annual odometer reading will be taken at the end of each fiscal year on all district-owned vehicles used in the transportation of students.
STUDENT TRAVEL TO/FROM ACTIVITIES
Unless other travel arrangements are preauthorized by the building principal, teacher/coach, or other designee, or where a student is released directly to a parent/guardian at the close of the activity, students riding to an activity in a school bus are expected to return on it. Release to a parent/guardian will require a signed, dated note from the parent/guardian. Students on such trips are required to comply with the rules and regulations governing daily school transportation.
During periods of communicable or infectious disease outbreak in which the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) or local public health authority recommend social distancing practices that limit the number of students who may be transported on district-owned or operated school buses, students may be temporarily permitted to transport themselves to extracurricular activities. The superintendent or designee will notify students and parents/guardians when such circumstances exist and the period during which self-transportation will be permitted. Students desiring to self-transport must have the written permission of a parent/guardian and a signed waiver and release prior to the activity.
Unless a period of communicable or infectious disease outbreak exists as described above, under no circumstances will student participants be allowed to transport themselves or other students to or from the activity, except in the presence of his or her parent/guardian. In such instances, a waiver and release signed by the student’s parent/guardian must be on file with the school prior to the activity.
In the event the district does not provide transportation to an extracurricular activity, responsibility for transportation to and from the activity will remain with the parent/guardian. Parents/guardians will be required to sign a waiver and release of claims prior to the extracurricular activity or event, which waiver and release will remain on file at the appropriate school.
At least one teacher, coach or adult sponsor is required for each bus traveling to an extracurricular activity. All teachers, coaches and adult sponsors are required to be familiar with this policy prior to travel. Adults on each bus will be responsible for supervision of students and enforcement of bus rules. Bus drivers will be responsible for the safe operation of the bus in compliance with all applicable laws, rules and district policies.
This policy does not apply to activities such as promos or other school-sponsored dances in which student participation is optional, or attendance as a spectator at an athletic or other school-sponsored event.
Field Trip Guidelines Include:
1. Administrative approval must be granted by the principal. Overnight trips must be approved by the Board. Field trip requests should be approved and turned into the transportation supervisor five school days prior to the date the trip is scheduled.
2. Only district approved transportation shall be used on field trips.
3. Appropriate arrangements with the visit site are the responsibility of the teacher and should be made prior to the visit.
4. Parents should be informed of the nature, purpose, and the time schedule of the trip.
5. Adult supervision of the students must be adequate to meet safety and welfare needs of the students.
6. Grades K-8 may schedule one out of district field trip per grade level. This trip must be taken within the confines of the normal school day. Any other field trips must be approved by the superintendent and considered on a case-by-case basis.
7. Secondary field trips should be designed as much as possible to occur outside of the regular school day so students will not be placed in jeopardy of losing credit due to the attendance rule.
8. Chaperons may not use alcohol or tobacco while supervising students.
9. One female student cannot ride with a bus of only male students. One male student cannot ride with a bus of only female students.
10. Bus drivers should stay at the event. If the bus driver chooses to leave the event, they must inform the advisor. If the bus driver chooses to attend the event, the entrance fee will be paid. If attending the event, the bus driver may volunteer to be a chaperone, but this is not required.
Reimbursable Field Trips Include:
1. – all field trips taken in grades K-8 that are under the direction of a classroom teacher.
2. – all high school educational trips that do not involve either participating in a performance or watching a performance. Clinics tied directly to classroom work are considered allowable.
3. Allowable field trips will be charged per mile to the individual building budget. Allowable field trips exceeding a radius of 65 miles will also be charged driver expense.
Non-reimbursable Field Trips Include:
1. Clubs and organizations that are not tied to a specific class.
2. Extra curricular activities that involve performing or watching a performance. Performing groups include athletic teams, drill teams, pep band, pep club, cheerleaders, and student cheering sections.
3. Non-allowable field trips will be charged actual fuel and driver expenses as set in Policy.
All non-school activity transportation must be approved in advance and must provide insurance in addition to other charges.
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LEGAL REFERENCE:
Idaho Code Sections
33-512(12) – Governance of Schools (Extracurricular Activities)
33-1501 – Transportation Authorized
IDAPA Sections
08.02.02.004.01 – Standards for Idaho School Buses and Operations, July 2018
08.02.02.170 – School Bus Drivers and Vehicle Operation
08.02.02.180 – Written Policy (Activity Transportation)
08.02.02.190 – Program Operations
CROSS-REFERENCE:
570 – Extracurricular Student Activities
702 – Student Transportation System
730 – Student Bus Conduct
ADOPTED: April 17, 2024
AMENDED:
Attachment: