HomeMy WebLinkAboutRes 17-13 WA Amending the School Sanctioned Trips policy WESTLAKE ACADEMY
RESOLUTION 17-13
A RESOLUTION OF THE WESTLAKE ACADEMY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
APPROVING AN AMENDED SCHOOL SANCTIONED TRIPS POLICY
WHEREAS, Westlake Academy is responsible for operationalizing the learner profile as
defined by the International Baccalaureate Organization(IBO); and
WHEREAS, School sanctioned trips are a means to strengthen the operationalization of
the learner profile, this board policy must be revised to reflect new practices; and
WHEREAS, Current adopted policy does not reflect current practice, this board policy
must be revised to reflect these new practices; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees finds that the passage of this Resolution is in the best
interest of the citizens of Westlake as well as the students, their parents, and faculty of Westlake
Academy,
NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF
WESTLAKE ACADEMY:
SECTION 1: That, all matters stated in the recitals hereinabove are found to be true and
correct and are incorporated herein by reference as if copied in their entirety.
SECTION 2: That, the Board of Trustees Westlake Academy, hereby approves the
amendments to the School Sanctioned Trips policy for Westlake Academy attached to this
resolution as Exhibit "A':
SECTION 3: If any portion of this resolution shall, for any reason, be declared invalid
by any court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity shall not affect the remaining provisions
hereof and the Council hereby determines that it would have adopted this Resolution without the
invalid provision.
Resolution WA 17-13
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SECTION 4: That this resolution shall become effective from and after its date of
passage.
PASSED AND APPROVED ON THIS 11' DAY OF September 2017.
Laura Wheat, President
ATTEST:
KellEdwafh, Board Secret 1 V. qThomas E. Brymer, uperintendent
APPROVED AS TO FO "
r 7'Z X
Janet S. bert or L. Sqmon Lowry,
School ttomey
Resolution WA 17-13
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Exhibit A
TOWN OF WESTLAKE
WESTLAKE ACADEMY
BOARD OF TRUSTEES POLICY
Policy No. 6.02:
Date Board Adopted: March 9, 2009
Date Board Amended: September 11, 2017
Effective Date: September 11, 2017
Policy Category: Student Achievement
Policy Name: School-Sanctioned Trips
Policy Goal: Students Who Become Well Balanced, Life Long Learners
Policy Description: The Board of Trustees supports Academy-sanctioned trips as a
means to pursue, promote, and enhance IB learning goals for Academy students as set
out in the IB Learner Profile. As such, all school-sanctioned trips should complement
and promote the IB Learner Profile, the IB curriculum, as well as provide direct
educational value to the student participants. In an effort to provide the safest possible
environment for the students of Westlake Academy, this policy for student trips will be
enforced on any travel opportunities that occur away from the property located at 2600
J. T. Ottinger Road, Westlake, TX 76262.
Proposing and Developing Student Travel Opportunities
School-sanctioned trip - Any travel opportunity for Westlake Academy students that is
led by the members of the Westlake Academy faculty is considered a school-sanctioned
Westlake Academy trip and must comply with the requirements set forth by this policy
and any applicable administrative procedures for student travel.
The Executive Director shall be responsible for ensuring appropriate administrative
procedures are developed to ensure effective and efficient implementation of this board
policy. Administrative procedures shall be subject to approval by the Superintendent.
Resolution WA 17-13
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I. General Requirements
• Trip proposals should be submitted to the Executive Director or his/her designee
at least 12 months prior to the proposed departure date. Proposals will be
reviewed initially by a committee that includes the Executive Director, appropriate
Principals, and others as assigned. Acceptable proposals will be forwarded to the
Superintendent for review. The Superintendent will forward acceptable
proposals to the Board of Trustees for final approval.
• Student trips will be limited to travel dates within the Academy's approved school
calendar.
• An appropriate ratio of faculty to students will be established by the Executive
Director for all approved trips and will include at least one male and one female
faculty member.
• All chaperones for school-sanctioned trips will be members of the Westlake
Academy faculty and staff. Parents may be provided the opportunity to attend
certain domestic student trips with their child. Such opportunities will be
identified in the information distributed about the trip to Westlake Academy
families.
• Students participating in school-sanctioned trips must be in good standing as
outlined in the Parent/Student Handbook and the Academy's administrative
procedures for school trips. A student may be restricted from participating in a
school trip at any time that the student's standing changes. Such restrictions
may result in the forfeiture of payments made to the school prior to the time the
restrictions were imposed.
• All students participating in a school-sanctioned trip must use the transportation
arranged by the Academy. An exception may be made for student's traveling
with a parent or guardian as identified in the administrative procedures for school
trips.
• A student's participation in a school-sanctioned trip is a privilege, not a
right. Students participating in school trips are expected to represent Westlake
Academy in a responsible manner. The Academy's code of conduct and other
expectations identified in the Parent/Student Handbook apply at all times during
school-sanctioned trips. During school trips, students remain subject to the
disciplinary processes contained in the Parent/Student Handbook.
• Trip proposals must include an opportunity for students to share their
experiences with the Westlake Academy community.
• Once a proposal is approved, the trip leader(s) will work with the Executive
Director or his/her designee to ensure all applicable policies and administrative
procedures are followed. All student trips must be organized in accordance with
the requirements established in the Parent-Student Handbook and other
applicable administrative procedures.
Resolution WA 17-13
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II. Anticipated Trips by Grade Level
The following trips have been identified as curriculum enhancing trips, which the Board
agrees are appropriate to continue to offer to Westlake Academy students subject to the
discretion of the Executive Director:
Grade Trip Format/Location Occurrence
Primary
K - 2 Daytime field trips (local, no overnights)
3 Unit of Inquiry related trip (domestic) Spring
Ex. Camp Tyler, 2 night stay, Whitehouse, TX
4 Unit of Inquiry related trip (local, no overnights) Spring
5 Unit of Inquiry related trip (domestic) Fall
Ex. Sky Ranch in October, 2 night stay
Secondary
6 Team Building (domestic) Fall
Ex. Camp Eagle, Rocksprings, TX, 3 night stay
7 Daytime field trips (local, no overnights) Fall or Spring
8 Historical Trip related to Humanities (U.S. History) (domestic)
Spring
Ex. Washington D.C.
9 Daytime field trips (local, no overnights) Fall
Ex. Leadership, team building
10 College Tour Opportunity (domestic) Spring
Overnight (# of nights TBD)
11 College Tour Opportunity (domestic) Fall
Overnight (# of nights TBD)
12 Senior Retreat (domestic) Fall
Overnight (# of nights TBD)
Resolution WA 17-13
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III. International Trips
Any international trips will be considered based on student/teacher interest in specific
academic, leadership, and service initiatives (e.g. Shoulder to Shoulder, Leadership
Symposium, San Miguel Immersion Program, etc.). All international trips must adhere
to all Westlake Academy Board Policies and administrative procedures for school-
sanctioned trips. These school-sanctioned trips may be offered at various times
throughout the year upon the recommendation of the Executive Director and approval
by the Board of Trustees.
IV. Financing Trips, Insurance, Permissions, etc.
• Participation in school-sanctioned trips is voluntary and all students participating
shall be responsible for all fees and costs associated with the trip.
• Students are also responsible for all incidental costs associated with travel,
including, but not limited to fees associated with transportation to airports or other
departure locations, passport fees, required vaccinations and/or suggested
medications, and money for souvenirs, snacks, and other incidentals.
• Generally, all trip expenses are non-refundable. An explanation of any refund
opportunities will be included in the trip-specific information provided to families
prior to committing to participation on a school-sanctioned trip.
• A student must have written permission from a parent or legal guardian to
participate in any school-sanctioned trip. For each trip, the Academy will also
identify any other documentation that will be required prior to a trip's departure,
which may include liability waivers, behavior agreements, medical service
authorization form, emergency contact information, and any other information
deemed necessary by the Academy administration. Failure to provide the
required information prior to the departure date may result in denial of the
opportunity to travel and forfeiture of any amounts paid related to the trip.
V. Final Note
All student trip planning is the responsibility of Westlake Academy faculty and staff,
subject to the restrictions of this policy and administrative procedures for student travel.
Parent input is encouraged and will be considered; however, all final decisions will be
made by Academy administrators and the Board of Trustees as identified in this policy.
The Board of Trustee shall always have final approval of all out-of-state, school-
sanctioned trips. Such approval shall consider the immunity laws applicable for the
destination, school and employee liability for damages arising from accidents and/or
injuries that may occur during the trip, the stated educational value of the trip, and
whether participation results from advancement in a regional or national competition.
Dates Amended:
08/16/10
Resolution WA 17-13
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