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Tag: Travel

Published on
  • Effective: 11/18/1997
  • Revision: 12/10/2002
  1. Board Policy
    The Board is concerned that students devote as much time as possible in the pursuit of excellence in the basic areas of the curriculum. The Board also recognizes that activities are an essential part of a student’s school experience and that most activities involving competition between schools should be reserved for high school students. Middle and elementary school activities should be conducted at the local school level as much as possible and within the established guidelines for field trips (AA416).
    Guidelines

    1. High school activities include those sponsored by the following:
      1. Utah High School Activities Association
      2. State and/or national affiliated associations
      3. Local school and district sponsored programs
    2. The Administration will obtain information concerning the travel needs from the local schools. The Administration will develop guidelines that will bring into focus the financial feasibility and the priority of the schools.
    3. The Board supports the regulations concerning intrastate competition as approved by the Utah High School Activities Association.
  2. Administration Policy
    High school principals have the responsibility of planning student travel in relationship to the activity program. The following guidelines apply when using District transportation services:
    Guidelines'

    1. Utah High School Activities Association
      1. District buses may be used to transport participants to UHSAA events or other types of activities as determined by the school administration in conjunction with the Director of Transportation.
      2. Transportation for student spectators in District buses, at student expense, may approved when a specific need arises.
      3. Requests for use of buses are to be submitted to the Transportation Department at least two weeks in advance. This time period may be waived when schools compete in region and state tournaments.
    2. State Affiliated and Local School Activities
      1. Requests for use of District buses to support travel to state affiliated activities and other local school activities are to be submitted to the Transportation Department.
      2. These requests will be considered individually. They must be submitted at least two weeks in advance. This time period is waived when schools compete in region and state tournaments.
    3. When the District does not provide transportation in connection with a school-related activity or event, the following will apply:
      1. Each student desiring to participate in such an activity or event must submit a “Participation Disclosure and Acknowledgment” form signed by the student and the student’s parent or guardian which acknowledges that no transportation is being provided by the District and that the student’s participation is conditioned on the student arranging for his or her own transportation to events or competitions associated with the activity. The student may not be a member of the particular team or organization, nor participate in the activity, unless a completed “Participation Disclosure and Acknowledgement” form is on file.
      2. When involved in ATE/work-based learning experiences, students will utilize the “Activity Authorization” form developed by the Wasatch Front South Consortium.
    4. Organized tours involving post graduates (especially graduation celebrations) will not be sponsored by the local school or Jordan School District.
    5. Insurance coverage of any type excluding tort liability will not be underwritten by the local school or Jordan School District.
    6. In accordance with Utah High School Activities Association (UHSAA) bylaws, all practice games over 150 miles one way in any sport must be approved by the local Board of Education or its representative at the District Office. The request for approval must be submitted by the principal, on official school letterhead, and an eligibility list of that particular sport must be attached. Details of the travel experience must be provided.

Published on
  • Effective: 11/12/1974
  • Revision: 8/27/2024
    1. Board Directive
      While study of the basic curriculum shall provide the basis of the educational program, the Board recognizes that extra curricular activities involving travel may provide worthwhile learning experiences for more mature students.  Therefore, the Board delegates to the District Administration responsibility for developing policy for student travel which minimize disruptions in the basic education program, limit most overnight travel to high school students (or ninth grade students approved for high school activity/academic involvement), involve parents in planning, and safeguard students from undue pressure to participate.
    2. Administrative Policy
      The Student Overnight Travel policy shall be administered according to the following  administrative policy provisions:

      1. Principals shall be responsible for coordinating the development of student activity and travel plans according to the following criteria:
        1. Whenever possible, student activities shall be scheduled in proximity to the local school and the need for long distance or overnight travel avoided.  Using the travel proposal and request application process, the school must show why the requested activity experience cannot be obtained in proximity to the school.  As a general rule, the Board of Education will not accept requests for travel outside the continental United States.  There may develop, on rare occasions, the need for essential travel of this nature.  If this becomes the case, the school principal may appeal to the Board by demonstrating in writing the absolute necessity of the travel and that all appropriate safety considerations have been addressed.   The principal should be prepared, upon Board request, to appear before the Board for explanation and/or clarification of an appeal of this nature if necessary.
        2. Overnight travel shall not be included as part of the elementary and middle school educational programs.
          1. An exception may be granted to an individual student or group of students that wins a competition supported by the District and who qualifies for state or national level competition, e.g. history fair, science fair, geography bee, spelling bee, etc.
          2. Elementary and middle school students participating in approved competitions requiring overnight travel must be accompanied by a parent.
          3. The District is not responsible for any costs, including travel, associated with local, state, or national competitions.
          4. All travel for elementary and middle school students must comply with the provisions outlined in this policy (AA414).
          5. Non-overnight learning experiences away from the local school shall be provided as outlined in policy AA416—Field Trips.
        3. Overnight travel may be part of the educational program for high school students when the travel is for an activity sponsored by the Utah High School Activities Association, a state or nationally affiliated educational organization, or an approved high school program.
        4. Overnight travel may be part of the educational program for high school students when the anticipated educational benefits warrant the required expenditures, comparable experiences are not available at the local school, and the travel costs will not burden families unduly.  All requestors of trips must demonstrate educational significance as to why the students are participating in the activity.  The student overnight preliminary travel proposal form submitted by the principal shall require thorough responses to the following questions:
          1. What is the purpose of the trip?
          2. What will be the educational outcome of the experience?
          3. Can the educational experience be obtained closer to the home school? If not, explain why.
        5. Sanctioned activities shall abide by the regulations governing competitions outlined in the Utah High School Activities Association handbook.
        6. Each school group or team shall be limited to one extended overnight travel experience during the academic year whether or not such travel necessitates missing days of school.
          1. No such experience shall cause a student to miss more than two (2) days of school.
          2. Special circumstances requiring additional days from school for valid education purposes may be appealed to the appropriate Administrator of Schools.
        7. Each school group or team may also be eligible for one local trip that does not exceed 375 miles in distance from the District office located at 7387 S. Campus View Drive in West Jordan. This local trip will allow for a school group or team to stay no more than two nights and miss no more than two school days per trip.
        8. Student organizations shall be limited to one extended overnight travel experience and one local travel trip during the school year.
          1. An exception may be granted for up to eight (8) elected student leaders in each Career and Technical Education (CTE) organization if in the principal's judgment it is deemed essential to the successful completion of their program.  (Note: Exemptions granted for leaders in Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs need not be counted as the one overnight travel experience.)
          2. An exception may also be granted to an individual student or group of students if winning or qualifying at the local, state, or national level results in an invitation to compete or participate in an event that is considered postseason or the next level of competition.
            1. Such competition at the next level shall not count as the one (1) activity per organization nor the two (2) allowable days missed from school.
            2. If an invitation to participate in or compete does not allow a school time to comply with the stipulation to request leave 45 calendar days prior to a trip, the preliminary travel proposal must be submitted as soon as is feasible.
        9. If a school group or team desires an additional trip beyond the allowed trips, the coach/advisor must submit an overnight travel request following the designated process. All additional requests must be approved by the Board of Education.
        10. Supervision for student travel must be provided at a ratio of one (1) responsible adult age 21 years or older per ten (10) students.  However, there must always be at least two (2) chaperones regardless of the total number of students traveling.  Each chaperone must have a completed background check through Jordan School District.  Clearance will be verified with the Human Resources department prior to departure. Chaperones shall be primarily advisors and parents. Chaperones who are not current District employees will complete the Responsible Adult Information Form. Under no circumstance can a chaperone’s responsibility be delegated to an unapproved chaperone.  Students can only be released to their parent/guardian.
        11. All expenses (including travel expenses for required chaperones) associated with the trip must be paid by the participants themselves, covered by fund raising, or financed by Career and Technical Education (CTE) or other state or federal monies provided expressly for the activity.  School student body funds may not be used.
          1. The cost of substitutes for required advisors who are accompanying traveling students must be included as part of the travel expense and must be paid by either the travel participants or the individual advisor.
          2. Every traveling member will be required to purchase post-departure travel insurance through the District travel buyer.
          3. Student body general funds may not be used to pay costs related to student travel.
          4. All student expenditures associated with the trip must be itemized in detail by listing exact costs per student:
            1. transportation
            2. housing
            3. meals
            4. registration fees (when applicable)
            5. commercial insurance coverage (if not included in the package)
            6. individual post-departure travel insurance purchased through District travel buyer.
            7. other, i.e. event admissions
            8. chaperone/adult travel costs
          5. The total anticipated expenditure per student must be shown on the application form.  The percentage of the total student cost that may be earned through fund raising efforts must also be listed.
          6. When, in the sole judgment of the Administration or the Board of Education, in consultation with the school and the participating students and patrons, travel is suspended due to safety or other consideration beyond the control of any or all involved, Jordan School District, the Board of Education, school employees and agents shall have no obligation and shall be held harmless with respect to refund of any expenditures.  Participants should not expect refunds for cancellations either individually or as a group.  It is the local school’s responsibility to make this explicit to participants during the required parent meetings and prior to the commitment of funds.  The school administration must be certain that parents are aware of this condition and also require the parents to sign a statement of their understanding.
        12. Transportation shall be by commercial carrier, by Jordan District Suburbans, or by Jordan District Transportation Services for all overnight travel.  No private vehicle or private aircraft may be used for student travel. Ground transportation guidelines are as follows:
          1. Only those commercial carriers licensed to operate in Utah and in other states (when utilized) shall be used.
          2. Jordan District Suburbans may be used when following Suburban Use Guidelines. Suburban use for student overnight travel cannot exceed 150 miles one way.
          3. Jordan District buses may be used in the following circumstances:
            1. The trip is to take place when school is not in session.
            2. The travel is to be within the state.
            3. The request for services is submitted at least one month in advance.
            4. The request is approved by the Director of Transportation.
          4. Overnight travel
            1. Drivers will be compensated for a minimum of eight (8) hours for each day traveling to and from the field trip destination.
            2. Drivers will be compensated for at least eight (8) hours for each day at the destination.
            3. In accordance with Federal Department of Transportation Regulations, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration 49 CFR Part 395, a Jordan School District bus driver may only be on duty for 15 hours, followed by a full eight (8) hours of off-duty rest time.
              a) A driver may only drive for ten (10) of those 15 on-duty hours.
              b) Care should be taken to make sure District drivers are well rested so they can operate the bus safely.
              c) The schools will be responsible to provide for the expenses incurred to be in compliance with this regulation, to include a separate hotel room for each driver, and any mileage or travel expenses for additional relief drivers.
          5. Jordan School District vehicles are not authorized to operate between 1:00 A.M. and 4:00 A.M.
          6. When students are engaged in an activity where a change of clothing is required, schools should make arrangements for a changing room for students.  School buses shall not be used as a dressing room.
          7. No private vehicles may be used in overnight travel or school sponsored excursions.  Parents or legal guardians wishing to transport their own children, with the approval of the administration and/or the team coach/advisor, will not be under the jurisdiction of Jordan School District.
          8. Commercially rented buses or other modes of ground transportation may be used upon arrival at the destination.  Appropriate ground transportation insurance must be in place.  If the destination is over 150 miles one way, a commercial carrier, with a professional, licensed operator, must be utilized.
          9. Upon arrival at a destination, local ground transportation may be operated by an adult advisor/chaperone who is at least 21 years of age or older if the distance traveled is less than 150 miles one way, and the operator does not have any prior drug/alcohol related driving citations.  The vehicles used for this transportation should never exceed eight passenger capacity.  Fifteen passenger vans are strictly prohibited for any student travel.  Appropriate ground transportation insurance must be in place.
          10. Students are not allowed to drive when participating in overnight travel.
      2. A preliminary travel proposal outlining a desired overnight travel experience will be submitted to the Administrator of Schools prior to any discussion or meetings with parents and at least 45 days prior to the proposed trip.  The preliminary travel proposal for Administrator of Schools and Associate Superintendent,
        Business Administrator, or Superintendent approval shall include:

        1. The name of the group requesting permission to travel.
        2. The objectives of the trip, including valid and complete documentation of the educational outcomes.
        3. The proposed destination, mode of travel, and number of students involved.
        4. The number of school days missed.  (May not exceed two).
        5. The estimated total student cost of the trip including percentage of fund raising used to fund the trip per student. (Section II.A.9.)
        6. Specific and clearly defined reasons why the educational objectives cannot be met at another location closer to home.
        7. The principal's signature of approval.  (Cannot be a designee.)
      3. The final overnight travel request form shall be submitted to the appropriate Administrator of Schools and Associate Superintendent, Business Administrator, or Superintendent seven (7) days prior to departure. In addition to the information named in B. above, the request form shall also include complete documentation and summary of results of a required parent meeting as outlined in D below.
      4. A parent/guardian meeting must be held in conjunction with student travel requests.
        1. This meeting with parents will be held to discuss all costs and the itinerary associated with the proposed trip for the parents of potential student participants.  A parent survey may be utilized if a parent(s) is unable to attend the meeting.
        2. In this meeting parents will be informed, by a school administrator or the advisor in writing, of the proposed travel itinerary, anticipated expenditure per student, fund raising efforts, and the potential for non-refunds or expenditures when trips are cancelled.
          1. If 85 percent of the parents support the plan, a parent approval list will be submitted along with the application request.
          2. If the plan is not supported by 85 percent of the parents, all proposals for the trip will be abandoned.
            All necessary forms will be provided and completed at this meeting.
        3. A notarized statement granting the advisor permission to seek medical treatment for a student, in the event of an emergency, must be provided at the parent meeting or prior to the commencement of the trip.
      5. All overnight student travel participation is strictly optional.  Students who, for any reason, do not participate in activity travel shall not be penalized.  Nonparticipation shall not impact grades or the student's status in the class or organization.
      6. Advisors may not use an excessive amount of class/instructional time to plan and promote the trip.  The trip may only be advertised and promoted to Jordan School District students.
      7. Jordan District schools shall not sponsor activity travel for post-graduate students such as graduation trips, music tours, etc.
      8. Evidence of insurance coverage in addition to that provided by Utah State Risk Management shall be provided by the student organization from one of the following:
        1. The tour provider (vendor)
        2. A commercial group insurance carrier
        3. CHIPS insurance, sold to individual students through the school at reasonable cost
        4. Additional coverage from Utah State Risk Management
        5. In addition to the above insurance coverage, every traveling member will be required to purchase individual post-departure travel insurance through the District travel buyer. These costs shall be shared by the trip participants on an equal basis.
        6. A student shall show proof of family health insurance coverage.  This proof must be on file with the school advisor and provided to the school administration.

Published on
  • Effective: 8/27/1969
  • Revision: 9/8/2009
  1. Board Policy
    To help promote quality education in Jordan District schools, educators and administrative leaders shall be encouraged to participate in professional development activities including educational conferences and other events which provide opportunities to acquire knowledge, learn from state and national educational leaders, and keep abreast of new developments in the teaching profession. In addition, opportunities shall be provided to broaden perspectives as a safeguard against provincialism. The Board, therefore, authorizes the District Administration to develop guidelines for providing professional development experiences through conference participation within funding limitations.
  2. Administration Policy
    Participation in educational conferences and other professional development experiences shall be administered according to the following guidelines:
    Guidelines

    1. Conference selection and participation
      1. Efforts shall be made to take advantage of conferences and special institute programs conducted within the state and intermountain area.
      2. Efforts shall be made to obtain diversification in conference coverage and to provide an orderly rotation in conference participation.
      3. Individuals who have been assigned important leadership responsibilities and who are in positions to provide post-conference services to the District shall receive priority consideration as travel requests are reviewed.
      4. Individuals elected to national offices or who are invited by conference committees to participate as speakers or discussion group leaders shall receive priority consideration as travel requests are reviewed.
      5. Conference participants shall be encouraged to share materials and ideas with co-workers through in-service training sessions or other appropriate post-conference events identified by the Administrator of Schools.
    2. Allowances for conference expenses
      1. Allowances for expenses associated with conference attendance shall be provided according to the District travel authorization schedule.
      2. Special requests for partial payment of conference costs and the employment of substitutes shall be reviewed by the Administration.
    3. Procedures
      1. Conference requests shall be submitted by individuals or groups to the appropriate division administrator. Each request shall consist of three parts:
        1. A letter outlining the request and explaining the nature of the conference.
        2. A travel authorization form detailing the anticipated expenses.
        3. Copies of conference reservation information.
      2. Travel authorization requests shall be reviewed by the requester's supervisor and submitted to the appropriate division administrator for approval. Travel authorization requests for members of the Administrative Cabinet shall be submitted to the Superintendent for approval.
      3. Periodically, the Superintendent shall submit a report on conference activities to the Board.
    4. Participation
      1. School Principals
        1. An annual conference eligibility list shall be maintained. This list shall include the names of all principals and assistant principals and the year each one is eligible to attend a conference.
        2. Principals shall be authorized to attend a national conference once every four (4) years. National conference attendance is funded on the basis of the cost of registration, travel (air fare or automobile), lodging, and a District-authorized per diem for meals, gratuities, local travel, and other expenses. Principals desiring to attend an in-state conference, workshop or seminar during the year of their national conference rotation (every four years) may do so with the approval of the Administrator of Schools for their administrative area. Attendance at this conference is not at District expense.
        3. Principals requesting to attend in-state conferences, workshops, and seminars shall be approved on an individual basis by the Administrator of Schools. The Administrative Cabinet shall annually review and approve the amount that will be allowed for in-state conference expenses.
        4. Attendance at a conference by special request of the Board or Administration will not be included in the conference rotation.
        5. The principal and assistant principal working in the same school shall not be permitted to attend conferences simultaneously.
      2. District Office Staff
        1. An annual conference eligibility list, prepared by Division Administrators, shall be submitted for administrative approval. This list shall include nominations for participation in the current year's conference program and shall be the basis for conference attendance budgets.
        2. Conference attendance shall be determined by District needs and critical issues. Attendance shall be coordinated to assure that cabinet members do not all leave at the same time or attend the same conferences.
        3. District Administrators shall generally attend one national conference annually.
        4. Consultants, coordinators, and program specialists shall be authorized to attend a conference every two (2) years. Exceptions may be authorized by the Superintendent for those individuals who coordinate or direct multiple programs.
        5. Staff assistants maintain their conference participation rotation within the principal schedule.
        6. Attendance at a conference by special request of the Board or Administration will not be included in the conference rotation.
      3. Teachers
        1. Teachers shall submit requests for conference participation to their school principals. Schools are authorized a specific number of professional days to be used at the discretion of the principal. Otherwise, teachers or the organization they represent are responsible for their expenses. Approval for conference attendance will be given by the Superintendent upon the recommendation of the principal and Administrator of Schools provided the quota for professional days is not exceeded.
        2. Teacher conference travel shall be rotated so that representatives of all subject areas receive equal consideration.
        3. Travel requests for vocational teachers must comply with "a" and "b" above and must also be reviewed and endorsed by the respective vocational coordinator and the director of vocational education.
        4. Vocational education teachers assigned to supervise students attending conferences will have their expenses paid through vocational funds and are not included in the professional growth days.
      4. Students
        Requests for students or student groups to attend conferences shall be administered according to Policy AA414—Student Overnight Travel.

Published on
  • Effective: 8/27/1969
  • Revision: 3/29/2016
  • Reviewed: 3/26/2013
  1. Board Directive
    Field trips are an integral part of the instructional program and may be provided to enrich or expand learning opportunities for students.  Field trips shall be used to place a variety of civic, cultural, community, and business resources within the reach of the classroom.  Within funding limitations, it is the philosophy of the Jordan School District Board of Education to assure all schools an equal opportunity to receive bus service for field trips. The Board authorizes the Administration to implement a policy for field trips.
  2. Administrative Policy
    The Administration shall be responsible to see that field trip experiences, which are directly related to established curriculum goals, are provided according to the following administrative policy provisions:

    1. Field trip authorization
      1. Field trips of less than one (1) day duration shall be coordinated and authorized by the school principal who is responsible to assure that adequate funding is available through an appropriate funding source.  In elementary schools, field trips outside of Salt Lake, Utah and Davis Counties must be approved by the Administrator of Schools.
      2. Overnight travel must be authorized by an Administrator of Schools. (Refer to Policy AA414—Student Overnight Travel.)
      3. District consultants, coordinators, and teacher specialists may be assigned to coordinate field trip activities sponsored at the District level.
    2. A Field Trip Planning Guide shall be completed by staff and approved by the school principal for each proposed field trip.  The following information shall be provided by the teacher(s) or adviser(s) requesting the field trip:
      1. A description of the field trip including the purpose of the trip, place of destination, class or sponsoring organization, and number of students involved.
      2. An outline of the field trip curriculum including instruction prior to the event, during transit, at the point of destination, and evaluation or follow-up activities after the event.
    3. All field trips must adhere to established policies and regulations governing student safety, including use of an authorized means of transportation which meets all District and State requirements for transporting students, parent permission for student participation, and an adequate number of qualified adult supervisors who have passed a District background check, if needed.
    4. Bus service
      1. Principals must apply to the District Transportation Department for bus service for field trips a minimum of two weeks in advance.  The Request for Transportation Service should be completed online and approved by the principal and the Director of Transportation.
      2. District buses are generally available to provide field trip service beginning 15 minutes after the latest school starting time and ending 30 minutes prior to the earliest school closing time.
      3. Requests for bus service are considered on a first-come, first-served basis.  Special authorization may be obtained from the Administrator of Schools in hardship or special needs circumstances.
      4. District buses are not authorized to travel in hazardous terrain including unimproved or unmaintained roads.
      5. District buses are not authorized to travel in Big or Little Cottonwood Canyons during winter months or inclement weather.
      6. Field trip drivers will be compensated as follows:
        1. Monday-Friday:   Drivers shall be paid for a minimum of two (2) hours or the actual time spent on field trip/activity runs. Time will include plus one-half hour for cleaning and fueling the bus.  If the field trip/activity run is cancelled while the driver is on duty or the trip assignment is one-way (either to or from an event), drivers shall be paid for a minimum of two hours with the one-half hour allowance for inspecting, cleaning and fueling the bus included as part of the minimum.  The additional costs will be charged to the school or department that cancels the activity.
        2. Weekend/Holidays:  If the school fails to cancel the field trip prior to the driver showing up at the bus facility, the driver shall be paid a minimum of four (4) hours. The costs will be charged to the school or department that failed to cancel the activity.
      7. If the field trip/activity run is not completed on time and a substitute must be assigned to the driver's regular route, the school shall pay a minimum of two additional hours to cover substitute costs.
      8. In accordance with Federal Department of Transportation Regulations, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration 49 CFR Part 395, a Jordan School District bus driver may only be on duty for 15 hours, followed by a full eight (8) hours of off-duty rest time. A driver may only drive for ten (10) of those 15 on-duty hours. Care should be taken to make sure drivers are well rested so they can operate the bus safely. The schools will be responsible to provide for the expenses incurred to be in compliance with this regulation, to include a separate hotel room for each driver and any mileage or travel expenses for additional relief drivers.
      9. Jordan School District buses are not authorized to operate between 1:00 A.M. and 4:00 A.M.
      10. When students are engaged in an activity where a change of clothing is required, schools should make arrangements for a changing room for students.  School buses shall not be used as a dressing room.
      11. Upon arrival at the field trip/activity run destination, drivers shall secure the bus and remain accessible to the group unless otherwise instructed by the administrator in charge.
      12. The school administration shall assure that one or more responsible, adult supervisors are aboard each bus that is on a field trip/activity run.
      13. Drivers shall make every effort to assure safety and shall follow established procedures for student discipline.  (See District Policy DA170—School Bus Discipline.)
      14. It is not permitted for drivers to transport family members unless they are part of the group/class paying for the trip.
      15. It is not permitted for Jordan School District buses to travel across state lines.
    5. When the District does not provide transportation in connection with a school-related activity or event, the following will apply:
      1. Each student desiring to participate in such an activity or event must submit a “Participation Disclosure and Acknowledgment” form signed by the student and the student’s parent or guardian which acknowledges that no transportation is being provided by the District and that the student’s participation is conditioned on the student arranging for his or her own transportation to events or competitions associated with the activity.  The student may not be a member of the particular team or organization, nor participate in the activity, unless a completed “Participation Disclosure and Acknowledgement” form is on file.
      2. When involved in CTE/work-based learning experiences, students will utilize the “Activity Authorization” form developed by the Wasatch Front South Consortium.