5.37 Field / Activity / Athletic Trips

The Owasso Board of Education recognizes and supports the importance of school-sponsored educational field/activity/athletic trips made available to students in promoting a total, well-rounded school program. Travel for such events is normally limited to in-state, one-day event participation. It is recognized, however, that some exceptions would be necessary for a limited number of activities requiring overnight travel outside of the State.

Educational Field Trips

Educational field trips will be made only with the prior approval of the building principal. Advance consent of the student’s parent or guardian is required for participation in any field trip.  Senior trips, except for local field trips, may not be taken during the regular school calendar year.

The Board of Education defines educational field trips as visits to an area industry, factory, shop, plant, courthouse, museum, theater, lecture, symposium, farm, ranch, rock quarry, creek, river, park, etc., by a group of students pursuing academic or vocational study in a stated subject for the purpose of enriching their appreciation of, or acquiring additional knowledge in the subject. It does not refer to recreational outings or excursions, interscholastic contests, or extracurricular activities where students perform or compete.

The Board recognizes educational field trips as a part of the curriculum. The following criteria should be considered in deciding whether or not a field trip would be a profitable educational experience for students:

1. Will this be a better experience for students than other activities that might be conducted within the school building?
2. Should the trip be denied for safety reasons due to trip location and advisability?
3. Would the students profit more from the field trip than they would from available technology resources, models, experiments, resource persons, etc.?
4. Will the field trip enrich the lives of the students involved?

Activity/Athletic Trips

Activity/Athletic trips for the purpose of competitive qualification or for significant special invitational functions will be made only with the prior approval of the building principal and/or, as applicable, appropriate district level director. Should such trips require out-of-state travel the initial recommendation for approval by the principal and/or the District director must also be submitted to the Board of Education for final approval. If the competition is before the next scheduled Board Meeting then the Superintendent can give final approval, after notifying the School Board Members. Out-of-State travel should receive final approval of the Board of Education in advance of scheduling any trip related fundraising activities and/or transportation and/or trip accommodations. Out-of-State and overnight travel requiring more than two days of classroom instructional time are not advised. Advance consent of the student’s parents or guardians is also required for participation in any activity trip.

The following criteria should be considered in deciding whether or not an activity/athletic trip would be a profitable experience for students:

1. Length of Trip/School Vehicle Availability-school-sponsored trips of 300 miles or less from Owasso or outside of the State of Oklahoma are subject to the availability of the type and number of school owned vehicles requested, as well as the additional approval of the Transportation Director. Transportation exceeding 300 miles must be via approved commercial vehicles. Distance, educational value, student safety, expense, and any legal implications must be considered in the approval process.
2. Official Sponsor and Chaperone Availability-an appropriate number of chaperones should be recruited by the trip sponsor to ensure adequate supervision of students on trips. Sponsors and chaperones will be expected to do random inspections to ascertain whether students are in assigned locations. School employees acting as official chaperones should be restricted if functioning in this capacity would require them to miss work.  Nothing in this policy would prohibit use of personal leave according to appropriate use in District policy or take pay deduct should their absence not create a hardship relative to their duties with the District.
3. Rooming Options-Students shall not share or sleep in the same rooms with sponsors or chaperones unless the sponsor chaperone is the legal guardian of the student. Exceptions to this practice would include a documented medical necessity or when a student’s Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) requires it. For such exceptions written parental consent must be obtained. 
4. Legal /Safety Ramifications-A determination should be made relative to the benefit of the trip and District liability should accidents or injuries occur during the trip, as well as planning for other safety issues that might need consideration due to location, distance, parking, etc.
5. Trip Expenses-A determination should be made relative to the benefit of the trip in relationship to cost of the trip to the District.
6. Miscellaneous-A determination should be made relative to the benefit of the trip based upon any other factors deemed appropriate and applicable to each trip on a case by case basis.

Amended March 2017
Amended March 2014
Adopted November 2009