# IJOA Trips

The Board of Directors recognizes the importance of school-sponsored
trips as a means of reinforcing and enhancing the curriculum and as a
vehicle for encouraging and supporting student participation in academic
and athletic competitions. Trips in and beyond the community give a
direct learning experience and may provide practical application to the
student.

### [Types of Trips]

A field trip is a planned educational activity in which a class or group
of students leaves the school grounds for the purpose of continuing,
extending or enriching the instructional program as an integral part of
the curriculum. The trip should be designed to stimulate student
interest and inquiry and provide opportunities for social growth and
development. To be educationally beneficial, a field trip requires
thoughtful selection, careful advance preparation of the students, and
opportunities for the students to assimilate the experience during and
at the conclusion of the trip.

Any athletic or competition activity that involves an overnight stay
and/or out-of-state travel must have Board approval.

Extracurricular or co-curricular trips are trips that do not replace
regular classroom instruction, are taken by a district recognized group
or organization, and may not include all students (i.e. community
volunteer activities).

An international trip is an organized activity that is directly related
to the curriculum (i.e., language and culture studies, exchange
programs, etc.).

International trips may be special in nature and may include group
language study in a recognized foreign institution.

### [Overnight/Out-of-State/International Travel]

All overnight trips and out of state or international trips must have
the approval of the Principal, the Superintendent, and the Board of
Directors. All students who participate in an out-of-state and/or
overnight trip must provide proof of health insurance. In addition,
students who participate in international trips must provide proof of
international health coverage and emergency evacuation insurance.

Trips not specifically approved as an RSU 1 field trip, competition
trip, co-curricular or extra-curricular trip and/or international trip
will not be covered by the District's liability insurance or District
Legal Counsel.

### Non-sanctioned Trips

Non-sanctioned trips are trips that are not an integral part of the
instructional program and have not been authorized by the Board.
Non-sanctioned trips are any trips or excursions organized by District
employees, parents, non-school groups, community members or others,
acting independently of the schools. These trips involve students on a
voluntary and self-supporting basis, are not approved by the Board, and
are not part of or associated with the curriculum, co-curricular or
extracurricular activities. All responsibility for non-sanctioned trips
and excursions lies with the individual(s) or group(s) sponsoring and
organizing them. Non-sanctioned trips may not represent the school
and/or RSU 1 in any manner.

Recruitment and planning of non-sanctioned trips is prohibited during
instructional time and during the employee's regularly scheduled
workday.

Non-sanctioned trips must not represent themselves as school functions
or as related to or an extension of instructional, co-curricular or
extracurricular programs including, but not limited to, any use of
school logo. While private activities of staff cannot be regulated by
the school, it is the responsibility of any staff engaging in such trips
or activities to notify the parents of the participating students that
this outside event is not a school activity and that it is a private
volunteer excursion undertaken by that teacher or staff member. Trips
not specifically approved as an RSU 1 field trip, athletic trip,
co-curricular or extra-curricular trip, or international trip will not
be covered by the District's liability insurance and the District Legal
Counsel.

Individuals or groups who wish to use the schools for the purpose of
publicizing trips or recruiting participants must submit a request
following the same procedures required of other individuals or
non-school groups requesting use of school facilities (Article IX,
Section 1).

### Trip Chaperones

The requirement for chaperone ratios as defined in the Administrative
Guidelines may be adjusted according to the type of trip and/or the
destination. Application for the trip may request a lower or higher
ratio of chaperones. Rationale for change in ratio must accompany the
application.

### Application for Authorization for Sanctioned Trips

All trips will have specific information forms filled out and returned
to the appropriate administrators within the deadlines required. Online
submission is preferable as the district's efforts to conserve paper are
important. Only RSU 1 forms may be used for trip purposes.

A specific budget will be developed for such trips; funds needed beyond
those budgeted may be raised through approved fundraising activities. In
addition, a reasonable fee may be collected from each student.
Provisions for covering such fees shall be made for those students
unable to pay for an RSU 1 sanctioned trip. All money must be collected
prior to departure

### Parental Permission

Any trip requires parental/guardian-signed permission form with
emergency contact, and medical information forms that will be
confidential.

Parents/guardians and students will also receive written expectations
that the Code of Conduct and all disciplinary action available to school
officials will be in force during the trip. In the case of major
infractions of school rules, parents may be notified during the trip
and, depending on the seriousness of the infraction, may be required to
pick students up at the trip location.

### Principals: Responsibilities for Academic Activities and Field Trips

Principals shall make every effort to assure that pupils are not removed
from academic subjects for non-academic activities unless in the
judgment of the Principal the activity is in the best interest of the
students.

Adopted: March 25, 2013