Saugus school board revamps field trip policy

SAUGUS – Saugus High School history teacher Rick Lavoie might be the first to put the potentially new overseas or overnight field trip policy to the test.Lavoie sought permission from the School Committee Thursday just minutes after committee member Christine Wilson offered the newly inked policy for a first reading. The policy won’t go into effect until it is formally adopted, which could be during the second meeting in October.If passed, Lavoie won’t actually be held to the letter of the law regarding the policy because the committee approved his request to take students to Germany, Austria and Switzerland next April. Still, he applauded Wilson’s policy and said the trip already adheres to most of its new requirements.Touching on some of the highlights of the 8-page policy, Wilson said it touches on the student/chaperone ratio, student rules of behavior, the number of field trips allowed in a one-year span and cancellation language, which could result in lost deposits.The policy gives the committee or superintendent the right to cancel trips right up to departure or recall trips in progress if they believe there is a potential danger to students.According to the draft, foreign trip policy also spells out liability in terms of medical expenses or if a student is sent home early due to a breach of school rules or host country laws.The policy also spells out rules for student behavior on foreign field trips, which includes not only adhering to Saugus School policies abroad but also to that of the host families or countries.When a new policy is presented, the second reading and the vote usually occur at the same meeting, but Wilson asked to delay the second reading until the regularly scheduled meeting in October because she expects to hear feedback on the policy.Wilson said Thursday that she’s already received several comments on the new policy and expects there will be more.”They weren’t complaints,” she added quickly.Instead, Wilson said the comments focused more on issues such as the student/chaperone ratio and how to handle passports.She said people who have previously taken part in overseas trips have also been a valuable resource for her.Copies of the draft proposal are available at each school as well as the school administration building on Main Street.”People shouldn’t panic,” Wilson added. “If a trip is already approved, they don’t have to necessarily comply with all of (the new policy) . . . There is just a lot of stuff going on about trips and liability and we wanted to work on a more formal policy so people will know what is expected.”