PHOENIX — The Phoenix Union High School District has revised its policies for conducting field trips after one of its students drowned last summer while attending a football camp in northern Arizona.
On Feb. 1, the district's Governing Board approved a new version of its policy dictating how field trips should be organized and approved. The changes come several months after 15-year-old Christopher Hampton of Cesar Chavez High School died after an incident at Show Low Lake.
The updated policy outlines how out-of-state and international trips shall be approved, how emergency situations shall be reported, and lists out how chaperones shall behave.
The policy notably states that "there must be a clear plan for continuous supervision of students on overnight trips."
The circumstances surrounding Hampton's death began after he and other students went swimming at Show Low Lake.
He had reportedly been left behind after his group had boarded their buses and headed back to the camp. It wasn't until before bed that students alerted coaches Hampton was missing.
The high school student was later found dead at the lake. Hampton's death was ruled an accident.
The school district's policy prohibits students from swimming, scuba diving, and sailing unless the activity relates to a sports competition. All water-related activities require prior approval from administration, according to the policy.
An attorney representing Hampton's family said in a statement that this recent policy update does "very little" unless proper enforcement of the guidelines is carried out.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Phoenix Union the district "regularly reviews and revises our processes and procedures connected to all school-related business. This practice is connected to our commitment to continuous improvement to best serve our students, staff, and community."
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