Jenni Speed Inns | Field Trip Dispatcher
760.290.2665 [email protected]
Office Hours: M-F 7:00 AM - 3:00 PM
The drivers and staff of the Transportation Department love to provide safe and efficient transportation for San Marcos Unified School District educational programs. The SMUSD Transportation Department provides over 3,000 annual field trips for our district and non-district agencies annually. SMUSD is very fortunate to have many large buses available to support the district's large educational programs, resulting in an average of 50% cost savings compared to using a charter company to provide field trip services.
Field Trip Requests
The following link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScsL-aMcM2sn4eOxhzyvB3MeiqZvNeN-YYqS3B8jb7B181Sdw/viewform?usp=sf_link will open a Google form. Once completed, the requester will receive an email with a completed Field Trip Request form populated with the data submitted with the Google form. The email will provide the "next steps" required to successfully schedule the field trip bus or buses.
Field Trip Destinations and Pricing
To lookup Field Trip Destinations and Pricing, follow the link.
Bus Capacity
The District's large buses can hold up to 72 passengers. In some cases, the buses can be filled to capacity for short trips in and around San Marcos at the primary grade levels. The maximum capacity is three students per bus seat. If a bus ride will be more than twenty minutes each way and older students will be transported, we recommend 48 passengers per bus. This 48-passenger limit is highly recommended for the secondary grade levels.
Special Education Field Trips
If you are planning a field trip for students who require special equipment to be transported, for example, a wheelchair or scooter, a special needs bus will need to be requested. Requests must be approved by the Special Education Department before submitting the Field Trip request to the Transportation Department. Our special needs buses can accommodate up to two wheelchairs. We encourage other children to ride the bus with the students with special needs and that an adult chaperone is provided to ride the bus.
Charter Buses
San Marcos Unified School Bus Drivers are highly trained and are held to a high safety standard. SMUSD buses are regularly inspected in-house at the Transportation Department's Vehicle Repair Facility by our highly skilled Mechanics. Additionally, the buses are inspected annually by the California Highway Patrol. SMUSD has these programs to ensure our students have the safest transportation services. Therefore, most requests for the use of charter buses are not approved. SMUSD cannot ensure that the charter companies operate at the District's high standards.
Moving Truck Use
The Transportation Department has a 24-foot box truck that District staff can request to use. Due to the size and brake system, this vehicle may only be operated by qualified Transportation personnel. The requesting person will be responsible for loading, securing, and unloading cargo. Students are not allowed to ride in the truck. The Cargo portion of this truck is 25 feet long and 10 feet tall. This vehicle is equipped with a hydraulic lift, which will be operated by the driver. Tie-downs and moving blankets will not be provided.
Using this vehicle is $5.00 per mile with a minimum of 15 miles. To request the use of this vehicle, please use the Transportation Request Form and check the (Hino) option. Ensure you include the Departure Time, Return Time, and Destination Address on the form. When planning your trip, please note that this vehicle must stop at all California Highway Patrol Weigh Stations, which could add a little time to your trip. If additional trucks are needed, the Transportation Department will rent additional vehicles to accommodate the request.
Cancellations
Failure to cancel a field trip before the bus arrives at the pickup location will result in a full-price charge to the requesting site. The Transportation Department's hours of operation are Monday through Friday, from 5:00 am to 5:00 pm. Please call at least two hours before the requested pick-up time to avoid a cancellation fee. Cancellations can also be made by sending an email to [email protected]. Please note the field trip request number, the school site, and the field trip date and time in the body of the email.
Field Trip Billing
All monies collected for field trips must be turned in to the site's Office Manager. The Office Manager will then submit the collected funds to the District's Accounting Department. The Transportation Department submits all billing to the District Accounting Department in the month following the field trip. If special documentation is required for grants or scholarships, please get in touch with Valerie Herrera in the Accounting Department before submitting the Transportation Request form.