[GreyingJay]

This seems like an extreme case, but yes, this is all about liability and insurance and protecting the kids and the school.

Not allowing a parent to take their own kid to the hardware store sounds a little excessive, though.

I volunteer with a kids' summer camp and we ran into the same issues when our insurance provider started asking more questions about off-site trips. It is a valid question. If I as a camp volunteer drive a group of campers somewhere and get into a serious accident, who is culpable? Myself as an individual? The camp? Camp tried to enforce a policy where drivers of private vehicles had to provide proof of insurance coverage, but the best solution was to hire a yellow school bus to transport everyone. That was super expensive, though, so we eventually stopped doing the outtrip altogether.

Can you hire a yellow school bus or a coach bus? Maybe put out a call to your network of friends and family. Maybe someone close to the school is a driver who can put something together.