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Committee weighs policy on charging students for elementary field trips amid PTA disparities
Summary
Members discussed inconsistent practices around small field‑trip fees at elementary schools, fundraising inequities between PTAs, and the need for scholarship language on permission slips; staff will return with legal guidance and a recommended policy for the subcommittee.
The Revere School Committee spent substantial time on March 17 addressing inconsistent practices around elementary field‑trip fees and how the district should handle nominal charges and scholarships.
Several members reported that some elementary schools have been asking parents for small contributions—commonly $5–$10—while others do not. Members said PTA fundraising capacity varies widely between schools, and that inconsistency can make opportunities unequal. Committee member Mr. Kingston and others urged staff and principals to reach consensus and present a uniform approach to the policy subcommittee.
Stephen Deian said he believed Chapter 70 of the Massachusetts statutes bars denying a student educational access based on inability to pay, calling for staff to clarify the law. Staff and other members agreed the committee should provide accurate guidance rather than rely on recall of statutes and asked administration to return with a legal summary. Vanessa suggested adding a standard scholarship clause on permission slips so families in need can request assistance; staff confirmed permission slips already include a contact for scholarship requests but agreed to standardize language across the district.
Members pointed to recent fundraising successes — including a districtwide dodgeball event — as helpful but not a long‑term replacement for policy. The committee asked staff to return with: (1) a legal summary on Chapter 70 and fees, (2) recommended permission‑slip scholarship language, and (3) options for using discretionary or central funds to ensure equitable access to trips.
