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To run a modest field trip, like the aquarium or DNA learning center, for my team of students (4 classes), it is over a thousand dollars just for the program/admission, and that doesn't include another thousand or so for buses.
Our school kicks in $800 for buses each year, but that is more than used up in one field trip.
The new wellness policies in schools put great limitations on fundraising opportunities, and the ones that reamain (Avon, etc,) are not big money makers.
Griping about paying for a field trip is sort of pushing it, don't you think?
This information was given to me by a good friend who happens to be an attorney at a large LI firm that specializes in education law. Judging by the responses here it seems to be one of those laws that are simply ignored by an industry based on the fact that everyone seems to do it. At least that's my opinion.
I would really love to see this law since they've been charging for field trips for a long, long time as others have noted. I'm sure your friend won't mind giving you the appropriate law to post here.
To run a modest field trip, like the aquarium or DNA learning center, for my team of students (4 classes), it is over a thousand dollars just for the program/admission, and that doesn't include another thousand or so for buses.
Our school kicks in $800 for buses each year, but that is more than used up in one field trip.
The new wellness policies in schools put great limitations on fundraising opportunities, and the ones that reamain (Avon, etc,) are not big money makers.
Griping about paying for a field trip is sort of pushing it, don't you think?
Wellness policies?...is that some sort of PC verbiage for forbidding those dangerous cupcake sales?
Wellness policies?...is that some sort of PC verbiage for forbidding those dangerous cupcake sales?
You got it!
06-03-2010, 03:07 PM
grant516
n/a posts
I know it is against the law to mandate a paid field trip as part of a school curriculum.
i.e. - the kid can't be penalized for not being able to afford to go.
As for charging for a field trip- in all reality, the district isn't charging the kids- the field trip location is. If the rented bus costs $3 and the musem costs $9- the school collects the money and the other groups are paid. The school itself cannot over collect, and if a student does not show up, they are entitled to be refunded- this can sometimes hurt group pricing, and in all cases I know of- usually the teacher or field trip coordinator ends up having to foot the bill.
Chaperones- even overnight ones (who are paid) must come from a general fund- not individual field trip collections.
06-03-2010, 03:12 PM
grant516
n/a posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gpsma
Wellness policies?...is that some sort of PC verbiage for forbidding those dangerous cupcake sales?
It forces candy/bake sales to times in which school lunch is not available- which is a more challenging time to sell.
Also some school have policies forbidding the sale/distribution of candy (aside from as a reward incentive), sugars, sodas, etc.
Door to door is highly discouraged these days too.
The state has also come in and started demanding many fund-raiser sales are taxable, and thus need to be remitted to NYS.
For example, a candy bar sale after school must be taxed and sent to NY; even with schools 501(c) non-profit status. Bake sales, you may be happy to know, are excluded from this.
I remember the ever-popular bumper sticker in Santa Cruz-
Let the air force hold a bake sale to buy their bomber.
I'm sure the procedure is different in all districts, but at mine the wellness policy was designed by a district-mandated committee of volunteers chaired by a member of the phys. ed. department (but including teachers from various disciplines). I know their heart was in the right place, but the details are sometimes a bit over-the-top. For example, the chemistry teachers used to do a nice lab where the kids made ice cream by hand in class (with regular milk, not cream) as an illustration of the concept of freezing-point depression. They are forbidden to do it now, even if all parents give their signed consent, since it violates the wellness policy. Again, I understand the point of the whole thing, but this seems a little draconian.
Sorry to get off topic. I just meant that these policies can interfere with a lot of options for fundraising to defer the costs of field trips for parents.
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