Policy okay’s private vehicles for school trips

School board volunteer driver procedures in Victoria, British Columbia have been revamped to comply with changes made this April by Greater Victoria School District (School District 61). Under the District’s changed policy it is the responsibility of the Principal to ensure that there is an adequate screening and authorization process for the use of volunteer drivers and their vehicles for curricular or extra-curricular activities. Volunteer drivers for the school board may have to pass a criminal record check and may be required to provide the school with a copy of their driving record/abstract.However Greater Victoria school trustee John Young recently raised concerns at a board meeting suggesting the use of private vehicles for student field trips should be discontinued. Young says the policy on school board field trip transportation is dangerous. He says student safety is not guaranteed under the District’s new policy. His reasoning is that the board cannot check the safety of the vehicle nor the quality of the motorist’s abilities. Currently there is no standard inspection of private vehicles transporting students to ensure they are safe.The school board voted against Young’s motion.