8640 - TRANSPORTATION FOR FIELD AND OTHER DISTRICT-SPONSORED TRIPS

It shall be the policy of the Board to use regular or special-purpose school vehicles for transportation on field and other District-sponsored trips when students are required (compelled) to attend. Regular or special-purpose school vehicles include: school bus, District-owned vehicle, privately owned vehicle (if there is a contract in place for the purpose of providing student transportation for educational purpose), approved rental vehicles, public transportation, and commercial bus previously approved and contracted by the District for the purpose of providing student transportation.

Schools may, but they are not required to arrange regular or special-purpose school vehicles for transportation on field and other District-sponsored trips when students are not required (compelled) to attend or when transportation is part of an extra-curricular activity. For the purposes of this paragraph, regular or special-purpose school vehicles include: school buses, District-owned vehicles, rental vehicles including passenger vans with seating capacity not to exceed ten (10) persons, public transportation, privately owned vehicles, and drivers in compliance with Board Policy 8660 – Transportation by Private Vehicle, and commercial bus contracted by the District for the purpose of providing student transportation. Non-required (compelled) transportation type trips include: athletic trips, band trips, chorus trips, and educational trips.

When schools arrange transportation for field and other District-sponsored trips by private vehicle they must follow Board Policy 8660 – Transportation by Private Vehicle, for all transportation arrangements that include privately owned vehicles. The school must also follow the requirements found in the "District Procedures and Criteria for Field Trips" booklet regarding the types of acceptable vehicles, insurance requirements, parent permission slips etc. In addition to this section schools should consider the following in making arrangements for student transport:

1. Except for emergency reasons, there should be no variation from the scheduled route of the trip.
2. School bus transportation may be limited by the availability of vehicles, drivers, and scheduling and will not be available when needed for home to school purposes.
3. All students are expected to ride the approved vehicle to and from each activity unless a deviation from this arrangement is accepted by the school principal prior to the commencement of the trip.
4. Unless approved by the school principal in writing prior to the commencement of the trip, District students not affiliated with the trip activity, non-district students, and/or children of preschool age are not be permitted to ride on the trip vehicle.

The Superintendent may prepare administrative procedures to ensure that all transportation is in compliance with Board policy on use of District vehicles and/or use of private vehicles.

Revised 4/27/10
Reviewed 3/12/24

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