<p>…think about getting insurance coverage:</p>
<p>[$690,000</a> lawsuit verdict gives school chaperones pause](<a href=“http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008000965_webchaperone17.html]$690,000”>http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008000965_webchaperone17.html)</p>
<p>No matter what the details of this lawsuit are, for someone considering it, you can get an umbrella liability coverage for a huge amount dovetailed with your homeowners and car insurance. We got a blanket million dollar coverage the first time we hauled Cub Scouts anywhere for about $100/year. It’s just not worth risking your net worth if you can pay the modest premium for the coverage.
That said, more and more parents will think twice about volunteering to do this. H always went along on the band trips - we paid all the expenses, he didn’t ski much, paid attention late at night to the kids, but came home with the ultimate list “Boys my daughter will never be allowed to date”.</p>
<p>DH was a chaperone for a two-week trip to Europe w/ 36 teenagers (6 chaperones total). I think it was one of the most nerve-wracking experiences of his life - and he used to deploy w/ Marines! I thought it was going to be a great trip b/c I knew most of the kids to be very studious and well-behaved. Everythihg changed once they crossed the Atlantic.</p>
<p>Fortunately no one was hurt & everyone made it home ok, but I don’t think DH will ever ever ever do anything like that again. I don’t think he slept peacefully the entire time!</p>
<p>From the sound of things, it’s amazing he didn’t look like Moses just down from the mountaintop (white-haired) when he got home!</p>
<p>I’m a Boy Scout leader and I run a high school robotics team through the Explorer’s program. Both carry liability insurance that covers volunteers. I wouldn’t think of volunteering for anything at a school – they make it crystal clear that they won’t assume liability for anything. Until they extend their liability umbrella to volunteers, they can find some other sap to risk everything.</p>
<p>Most schools’ liability policies cover volunteer chaperones at school sponsored functions.</p>
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<p>Where do you go to school? I’m really surprised to hear this. Our district has been notably absent in any claim for responsibility. It would be good to know that we were covered.</p>
<p>bz2010, his fears were not misplaced. A kid from our HS is now a paraplegic as a result of a similar incident on a European trip conducted by teachers from our HS. (They do it every year, and it is very clear that no substances or risky behaviors are allowed and that anyone who transgresses will be immediately sent home at their parents’ expense. Suffice it to say that the degree of his earlier involvement with alcohol was not revealed in advance, or he would not have been taken on the trip.) So far, the parents have had the decency not to sue anyone, as far as I know. They have received significant support from the community, because everyone loves this kid. It is really heartbreaking. While my heart bleeds for the parents of this girl, I doubt that the chaperone held her nose and poured booze down her throat–or that the chaperone condoned her drinking. One wonders what grounds the arbiter found to place partial blame on the chaperone…</p>
<p>This looks like one mom and three kids, NOT a school function.</p>
<p>My school had an awful incident many years ago. One grade of students was traveling and a student got sick and died (meningitis). The school and the head chaperon were sued and I am sure the school had the proper insurance, but I have never traveled with students without thinking about this horrible trip.</p>
<p>I agree that benefits of traveling far outweigh the risks, but no one should travel with other people’s children without thinking very hard about the huge responsibility involved. Ever since September 11, also, it’s very hard…</p>