Field Trip Information

The Transportation Department annually conducts and coordinates over 1,000 academic and athletic field trips in support of the LHCSD and surrounding District’s educational programs.

The primary function of the Transportation Department remains home-to-school pupil transportation. Between 6:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. all LHCSD school buses and school bus drivers are fully committed to transporting students to and from school. After 9:00 a.m., and before the afternoon dismissal begins at 1:00 p.m., up to 6 general education school buses and school bus drivers are available for field trips; trips should be scheduled around this window of availability. 

Bus Capacity Considerations

The vast majority of our fleet buses are rated for a 78-passenger capacity, at three occupants per seat. This standard is used for elementary school students, though at least one seat’s capacity is reduced by the need for an adult chaperone on each bus. For secondary school field trips, we limit seating to only two per seat, which reduces the capacity of the standard 78-passenger bus to 52 students, less the number of adult chaperones.

Charter Buses

Sometimes a charter bus, rather than a LHCSD school bus, may be required or desired. If a charter bus is used, the cost of the charter service will be charged.  Use of charter buses must be coordinated through the Transportation Department to ensure use of a District approved charter service.  In the spring, these services become fully booked, so it is important to plan early in the school year to confirm the availability of bus transportation. Most charter companies require seven days’ notice to cancel a trip without charge once it has been confirmed.

Scheduling Issues

It is essential that buses returning students from field trip locations in the early afternoon time frame leave on time, as these buses are required to return to District schools and perform their afternoon school-to-home transportation. Similarly, buses taking groups to a destination in the early afternoon must depart on time so they are able to return in time to perform their afternoon school-to-home runs. A five or ten minute delay could make our buses late for the afternoon pickup, and affect hundreds of students at multiple schools who will then be late getting home from school.

Cancellations, Changes, and Coordination

As mentioned above, cancellation of charter bus services requires at least a seven day notice to avoid a minimum charge.  For LHCSD school buses, notification must be made before the bus arrives at the school site to avoid the $30.00 minimum charge.  Once a field trip begins, a driver cannot approve any changes to the planned itinerary; a school site administrator must notify the Transportation Department. The school bus may or may not stay at the field trip site depending upon operational need. It is important that school site representatives on the trip confirm departure time and location with school bus drivers before disembarking. Drivers are not authorized to make destination or time changes to any trip.  There is no expectation that school bus drivers be given free admission to the site or activity that students are attending.