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Show far havi School Board Limits TrimA By TOM BL'SSELBERG FARMINGTON -- Student trips may now extend as far east as Omaha, Neb., west to the Pacific Coast, north into southern Canada and down into Mexico. AFTER NEARLY two hours of discussion, the board of education came to that conclusion after throwing out suggestions ranging from only the states contiguous to Utah to overseas if a "sugar daddy" can be found to foot the bill. Trips will be limited to four school days maximum max-imum that can be missed during the year allowing allow-ing for up to two trips per student -- or an average aver-age of two school days per trip. BOARD PRES. Sheryl Allen noted that in her six years on the board, no issue has been raised so often for study with the policy "updated, "up-dated, outdated or ignored" over the years, in Supt. Lawrence Welling's words. In addition, no issue has brought more discussion dis-cussion in Asst. Supt. Gasle Stevenson's monthly meetings with high school principals, either, he said, emphasizing principals shouldn't have to spend so much time worrying wor-rying about trips when they should have more chance to be in the classrooms. 1 AND MRS. ALLEN said lean economic times have probably raised the levels of concern con-cern for many parents who say they flat out can't afford to pay for their students' trips but don't want the schools subsidizing travel. "Some are philosophically against it-they believe a student should be in the classroom," she continued while many businessmen start complaining they already donate to the school paper and the yearbook, for example. "SHOULD TRIPS be limited?" she asked the board. "I don't think there's any question but that there needs to be a limit the purpose of schools is not to provide trips but to educate." edu-cate." Board Member Ray Briscoe, a former high school teacher w ho has accompanied students on trips, agreed there "needs to be some limitations" limi-tations" but said "it's not the distance or the days out of school-I find that experience (exceeds)" (ex-ceeds)" all but "well done" classroom presentations. presen-tations. PARENT Lowell Hall of Fruit Heights said "the whole process leaves the family out until it's too late to make an impact" and that puts pressure on parents to agree with a trip after students have been "psyched up." Looking to alternatives he mentioned the Davis Cup as an "excellent" chance for students stu-dents to compete locally, and reminded board members of the "many university facilities along the Wasatch Front" that could be utilized util-ized rather than traveling out of state. OTHER PORTIONS of the travel policy approved include: 80 percent parental approval approv-al must be received, with one parent vote per child involved, before plans move "full steam ahead." It will be in a secret ballot conducted by a group such as the PTA. Invitations or plans for excursions with student stu-dent groups should first be discussed with the school principal. If he's supportive, he will convey the information on the appropriate form to the superintendent for action or discussion discus-sion with the board of education. Instructors will not plan or discuss the possibilities of the excursion with students or parents unless and until he or she receives administrative approval. when tl THE GENERAL deadline for trip reqis the filti the district office is to remain Oct. 15 hr; wise, t be 60 days before the event for unforseer excepti Exceptions would come only for request;: enough the state board of education or federals: sible to ment, such as for a Presidential inaugr; ter Wl1 Schools will be limited to a maximum;:' wnatso trip requests and athletic teams, it k firmed, are not included in the policy be:. A ,V , .. . ,, . sized if of their generally extensive coups: being ti chances and the student following thai ; but f accompanies a team. cation FINANCIAL arrangements are cok. &m ch detail with all plans to raise finance; k: be add principal approval. They should be coi. accepte and disbursed through the school offia. "But students should largely confine fund-re-:: thetrea ticket sales to concerts and other tofc tne san activities. No door-to-door soliciations"-: ot allowed outside school boundaries. In addition, trip sponsors shall maker sions for students not financially able te:: cipate and all transportation shall be bs; convevence. I : LANA MARSDEN, wife of Daw I - School Orchestra Director Richard emphasized efforts she expends eaihv " N minimize travel costs for students. c..- nearly a full-time job. "We've never ta- trip that cost o er S200 (each) until tti W (when they traveled to Mexico)" ) Board Member Robert Mcintosh U U ? x trip requests be reviewed by schools 41 ity councils that would be set up ft teachers, parents and PTA member-' councils are in place in Salt Lake O xvx for example. WHILE THAT brought appetr' audience, it was felt something K needed before those councils cunM" |