County In Tenn. Looks To End Out-Of-State Trips For Athletic Teams

Webb presented School Board members with the new procedures during last week’s workshop. He asked for their feedback and some revisions may be made before they become effective.

The administrative procedures were recommended by a committee, which has been working on how the school district should handle field trips.

Webb said educational trips that require students to travel out of state or stay overnight would still require School Board approval, but athletic teams would no longer be allowed to travel out of state to participate in tournaments or events.

“There are tournaments that take place all around us,” said Webb, adding that athletic teams can participate in tournaments that are held in Tennessee.

However, the director noted that if a team qualifies for a TSSAA event that is held out of state, permission would be given.

In the past, cheerleading squads and basketball and baseball teams have been allowed to travel to Florida to participate in cheerleading camps and tournaments.

Some of the field trip requests have been discussed in great length by board members during their workshops and meetings.

The board recently asked Webb to develop some procedures on how to handle field trips.

The administrative procedure handout that was presented to board members didn’t specifically indicate putting an end to the out-of-state tournaments for athletic teams, but Webb said that was the intent of the committee.

Board vice chairman Michele Collins asked Webb what prompted this recommendation.

Webb said it was in part because the board had been “bogged down” with field trip requests in the past.

If a field trip is denied, there is not an appeals process under the recommended administrative procedures.