Recently, the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) method of selecting students changed from a first-come, first-served method to a lottery system. Dr. Bower-Phipps, a member of the PBIS committee, said that it was “Because tickets ran out too fast, especially for students with later lunch.” This change is said to “[ensure] every qualifying scholar has an equitable opportunity to participate in these enriching experiences,” per a StudentSquare communication on Nov. 28.

According to Bower-Phipps, it has made the selection process closer to equity, but the system is not without its kinks. Currently, it allows parents to sign up students without the students being aware that they have been signed up, leading to unfilled spots. Also, to make it more equitable, if a student can go on one field trip, then they cannot go on another one in the same timespan. If one is selected from one field trip, their name is removed from the lotteries of the others. There is no way for students to communicate their first, second, and third choices of which trip they’d rather go on, so that could lead to students not ending up on the trips they want. 

Dr. Bower Phipps mentioned that they have a plan to streamline the process, creating a system where both the student and parent would have to confirm their selection, a “double yes,” as well as adding a Google form where students could express their preferred trips, as well as notifying the runners-up in the case of unfilled spots.