DuBois School Board discusses field trips

Friday, February 17, 2012

Questions and problem solving from school board member Beverly Kurtz and other members of the DuBois Area School District's board may lead to some savings for the district.
The board approved its agenda Thursday for its regular meeting next week, but when it reached the field trips, Kurtz began to raise questions.
"Why can't the Junior Scholastic Challenge kids walk from the middle school to Penn State?" Kurtz asked.
"If they went down the street behind the businesses and Officer Brosky crossed them, why is that an issue?" Kurtz added. "When we're telling our kids to exercise, you sit around too much, then we bus them three blocks. We used to walk, by the way."
Superintendent Tim Deluccia said he recommends the students be bussed because it is a safety issue.
"Buses have accidents," board member Roland Bechtl Jr. said.
The bus would be coming to pick up four students to take them between the schools at a cost of $100.
Board member Scott Farrell asked why the students can't ride with a teacher. Deluccia said it is for legal reasons.
Farrell added he could see taking a bus for safety issues if the group was 50 students or more, but four students should be able to be escorted safely by a teacher.
"Wow, Bev, I agree with you on that, and it don't happen often," Farrell said with a laugh.
Kurtz pointed to a trip in which a high school teacher is walking five students to Penn State for an Academic Challenge practice. Then, the students are to take a bus at a cost of $85, plus a substitute for a half-day, to go to Pizza Hut for lunch.
Board member Melissa Mowrey said that historically the group, which is comprised of members from several other schools, used to walk to Pizza Hut after practice to have lunch and socialize. Since Pizza Hut moved its location, the students will be bussed there.
"Let's have all the pizza delivered to the high school and we'll host it," Kurtz said.
High school Principal Roger Collins said it wouldn't be his decision to bring the approximately six students from the six schools on the team to the high school for pizza.
Kurtz asked why the five DuBois students couldn't hop on the bus of one of the schools that already has a bus there and ride to Pizza Hut. Deluccia said it would be a legal issue.
Board member Patty Fish said in reading through the board policy on field trips, the guidelines are that they be properly planned events that enhance the values of the school and have specific educational goals.
Fish asked how a field trip for 13 students to Red Lobster at a cost of $250 or how a trip for 125 students to Hershey Park in which all expenses are paid by the Physics Club are educational.
Deluccia said the Red Lobster trip is for special needs children. The trip and tour of the restaurant are part of the Life Skills curriculum in socialization.
As for the trip to Hershey Park, Deluccia said there is a specific physics component in which students learn the science behind the rollercoasters and other rides.
The last point Kurtz made involved six elementary music instructors accompanying 56 students to Brockway Area High School for the PMEA District 3 Chorus Festival for an estimated expense of $1,456, plus $100 in travel expenses and to have six substitutes for one day.
Deluccia said there is an entry fee of about $26 per student. He went onto explain that all six teachers have to go because the students are from six different schools and regulations require that teachers stay with the students.
"Can we just cancel music for that day and not have six substitutes because there is $540 in substitutes?" Kurtz said. "Because your subs are more than likely not going to be music instructors, am I correct?"
Farrell said, again, he agreed with Kurtz.
"Is that (canceling music for one day) a problem," Kurtz asked Deluccia.
"Whatever you want," Deluccia said.
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Reported by Katie Weidenboerner, staff writer. Email: katiew@thecourierexpress.com.