Page 12 - AASBO EDGE Spring 2025

STUDENT ACTIVITY & SPORTS

BY THE TRUST
Navigating the Complexities of School Activity

and Sports Planning

School districts’ ability to ensure the safety and and trip request forms, evaluating whether the trip
success of activity trips and sports participation is offers unique learning opportunities not available in
critically important to the student experience. This the classroom. They must also assess whether safety
article delves into best practices for planning safe and issues can be effectively communicated to parents and
educational field trips and discusses the distinction managed by trip leaders. For trips that extend beyond
between district-sponsored and club sports, including state or national borders, additional approvals from
implications for district liability. the district governing board are typically required,
along with arrangements for international insurance
Planning Safe and Educational Field Trips through the Trust.
Field trips are a cornerstone of experiential learning,
offering students opportunities to engage with the Key Issues: Transportation, Supervision, And
world beyond the classroom and gain a broader context Record-Keeping
for instructional content. The planning and execution Transportation. Activity trip transportation is a
of these trips, however, require careful attention to significant concern, as it accounts for a large portion
detail to ensure both safety and educational value. of trip-related district claims and lawsuits. It is
strongly recommended that only district-owned and
Risk Analysis And Approval -operated vehicles be used for school activity trips.
Before embarking on any trip, a thorough risk This will ensure that vehicles are insured, adequately
analysis is essential. Utilizing tools like the Trust maintained, and driven by qualified personnel. Trip
Exposure Analysis Checklist (available in the leaders should also consult with the transportation
Technical Information Bulletin No. 34: Activity and department to plan safe travel routes and procedures.
Field Trips) can help identify potential risks related
to transportation, environment, and supervision. This Supervision. Adequate student supervision is
checklist encourages planners to think broadly about mandated under the Arizona Revised Statutes,
circumstances or events that could result in injury requiring a sufficient number of qualified supervisors
or property damage. Applicable issues may include to accompany students. The number of supervisors
travel routes, outdoor and environmental hazards, should be determined based on the age and needs
weather concerns, availability of emergency/first aid of the students, the size of the group, and the nature
services or facilities, supervisory challenges with of the trip. Supervisors must be physically present
larger groups, etc. Beyond the checklist exercise, and attentive, with volunteers assisting under the
consulting with a district risk manager or a Trust loss direction of school personnel. Effective supervision
control consultant can provide additional insights also involves periodic headcounts and a requirement
into any risks or concerns. that students remain with the group unless prior
Approval from school principals is also a critical step arrangements have been made.
in the process. Principals must review the risk analysis

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12 THE EDGE SPRING 2025