Board Policy

BP 3541.1

Business and Noninstructional Operations

School-Related Trips

Trips by School Vehicles

Transportation for field trips and for special activities approved by the Board of Education may be taken in buses or other transportation vehicles rented by the district or provided by contract with a private carrier. All vehicles shall meet federal and state standards.

The Superintendent or designee shall maintain procedures to regulate the use of the vehicles for approved school-related activities. Activity trips occurring outside of school hours shall be subject to the rules and policies regulating educational field trips. Student councils, parent-teacher associations, and any other organizations requesting transportation shall be fully responsible for the costs of the trip. To the extent that funding has been approved by the Board, such costs may be charged to the district.

Transportation by Private Automobile

If bus transportation cannot be provided by the district to a school-sponsored or course-related activity because of the limited number of participants, or is not feasible because of other considerations, the transportation of students in privately-owned automobiles may be permitted but only under the following conditions.

The vehicle must be driven by an adult age 25 or older who has good driving record and who has registered with the district for such purposes by filing a completed School Driver Certification Form. When filing the School Driver Certification Form, all drivers shall be issued the Driver Instruction Form and asked to keep it in their car. All student passengers shall provide permission slips signed by their parents/guardians.

Drivers shall be required to possess a valid California driver's license and liability insurance of at least $100,000 per occurrence. District personnel who frequently transport students in their private vehicles are urged to carry liability insurance of $300,000 or more per occurrence.

Owners, drivers and passengers shall be informed that the registered owner and his/her insurance company are responsible for the primary coverage in case any accidents may occur.

A seat belt must be provided for each passenger.

Trucks and pickups may not transport more persons than can safely sit in the passenger compartment.

The number of passengers, including the driver, shall not exceed the capacity for which the vehicle was designed and should not in any case exceed ten. (Education Code 39830)

Owners furnishing private vehicles shall not accept reimbursement from passengers in excess of the cost of operating the vehicle.

(cf. 6153 - Field Trips)

Legal Reference:

EDUCATION CODE

35330 Excursions and field trips

35332 Transportation by air

39830 School bus

39835 Use for community recreation

39837 Transportation of pupils to places of summer employment

39860 Transportation to special activities by district

44808 Liability when students not on school property

VEHICLE CODE

27315 Mandatory use of seat belts in private passenger vehicles

Policy PALOS VERDES PENINSULA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

adopted: March 22, 2001 Palos Verdes Estates, California