Compliance with Board/Authority Policies

At all times teachers and instructors must comply with the policies relating to the physical activities conducted as specified by the board/authority for which they are employed. Types of policies that a school board/authority may have but are not limited to include:

• Prohibited activities
  NB: Some boards/authorities may prohibit activities listed in this document
• Temperature/weather conditions and outdoor activities
• How and under what circumstances to contact parents
• Field trips and off-site activities
• Approval processes for the activity
• Approval processes for overnight trips
• Maximum number of days allowed for trips
• Transportation of students
• Transportation requirements of board/authority insurance policy
• Insurance requirements for staff or volunteers driving students
• Record keeping.

Permission from a school superintendent or designate is recommended when considering actions or activities not included in or in conflict with these guidelines.

If there is a question of safety in relation to providing any activity, teachers should check with their principal and/or school district administration prior to introducing the activity. Special consideration should be given to identifying and minimizing foreseeable risks not mentioned in this  document.

Types of Policies Recommended for School Authorities

School authorities should have policies in place to address student safety in the following areas as these policies can impact on the delivery of physical activities:

• Fire drills
• Bomb threats
• Inclement weather
• The storage of and occasional or regular administration of medication or prescription/non-prescription drugs for illness or chronic conditions
• Medical treatment of the medically fragile
• Emergency medical treatment of students
• Student conduct on school buses
• School bus safety precautions
• Field trips
• Transportation in private vehicles
• Supervision of students during school activities, extracurricular activities, during recesses and school  authorized transportation
• Maintenance of school buildings and grounds
• Community use of school facilities--so that hazards are not left after facility use
• Emergency measures and equipment
• Student conduct
• Student dress, especially for dangerous activities, such as working in laboratories and with machinery
• Off-site education programs
• Inspection policies for equipment.