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Board approves senior Silverwood trip with added chaperone and supervision conditions; student-council convention trip also approved
Summary
Trustees approved a senior-class overnight trip to Silverwood and the student-council delegation’s national convention trip to San Diego. The Silverwood approval included stipulations: a 5:1 student-to-chaperone minimum and planned overnight checks; student council’s national convention was approved with standard chaperone ratios.
Trustees voted to approve two overnight field trips after presentations from student leaders and advisors.
Senior trip to Silverwood: Senior class officers presented a fundraising-backed plan to charter buses, book hotel rooms and attend Silverwood amusement and water park near Coeur d’Alene. The students described fundraising activity and proposed a $30 per-student admission contribution; the class said it would cover remaining costs and offer assistance for students who could not pay.
Trustee concerns and board conditions: Trustees raised safety and supervision concerns, asked about driver and chaperone background checks, and requested stronger supervision plans because the trip would be overnight and out of the county. Trustee Jones said he would not approve the trip without a higher chaperone ratio; the board required at least one chaperone per five students (5:1) and that chaperones arrange continuous overnight checks (shifted monitoring of rooms and random checks). Additionally, the district will ensure chaperones complete district-required background checks if they will be alone with students.
Outcome: The motion to approve the Silverwood trip passed with the 5:1 chaperone ratio and the requirement that the senior class secure adequate chaperones and fingerprinting within the district timeline. The board also discussed logistics: charter buses (55 seats per bus), 30 hotel rooms planned, a 10:30 p.m. curfew, and clear rules about room assignments and separate boys/girls lodging.
Student Council national convention (San Diego): Student-council advisor Rob Hamburger asked the board to approve a delegation of eight students and two chaperones to attend the National Student Council conference in San Diego. The advisor said a donor would cover rooms and registration for up to seven people and that the school planned additional fundraising. Trustees approved that trip with a standard chaperone ratio; one trustee recorded an opposition but the motion carried.
Other overnight items: The board voted to approve two additional overnight requests (one other student-related overnight item was approved earlier in the meeting). The board required standard permission slips, an informational parent meeting and district fingerprinting/background checks for any chaperone who will be alone with students.
Ending: Administration will confirm chaperone fingerprints, finalize bus contracts and provide the board with a parent meeting date and finalized logistics before travel.
