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Pulaski teacher pitches EF Tours trips and revival of junior Beta club for middle school students
Summary
Alyssa Grant presented a plan for EF Tours–organized student travel (including a pilot Panama trip) and proposed reintroducing a project-focused National Junior Beta Club at Pulaski middle school; the board discussed fundraising, chaperone ratios, and administrative support but gave no formal approval at the meeting.
Alyssa Grant, a Pulaski County Public Schools staff member, asked the school board to allow promotion and planning of student travel through EF Tours and to reintroduce a National Junior Beta Club at the middle school.
Grant said she had traveled with EF Tours this summer and recommended the company based on safety, on-site support and fundraising tools. She described a pilot international trip currently proposed for mid‑June 2027 to Panama, and said EF Tours offers an on‑the‑ground regional office and a dedicated tour guide and bus for each group.
Grant told the board EF Tours uses a 6:1 student:chaperone ratio and prorates the cost for chaperones; she said parents would pay EF Tours directly and that fundraising revenue is routed through EF so the district does not handle the funds. She outlined fundraising models she has used — pizza kits, plant sales, calendars — and said the company provides scholarship applications and ways to lock in per‑student rates. Grant also described operational requests: permission to use Canvas and school email to communicate with families, to hold interest meetings and quarterly planning sessions, and to use school meeting space for recruiting and information sessions.
On the second topic, Grant proposed restarting a National Junior Beta Club for grades 6–8 focused on project‑based community service, leadership training and competitions. She described competitions (photography, engineering, advertising design) and conventions that can include regional and national events. She suggested membership criteria similar to the school’s expectations (minimum GPA threshold and no suspensions) and said the program would be school‑managed with oversight from principals and administrators.
Board members questioned logistics and finances. One board member asked how many students she would take; Grant said she could not yet predict exact numbers but emphasized the company’s 6:1 chaperone policy and that a low student sign‑up would affect the per‑adult cost. Questions from the board covered fundraising mechanics (how proceeds are divided among participants), whether EF would provide chaperones (the company provides a tour guide and representative but not parents or school chaperones), rooming configurations, travel insurance requirements and whether parents or staff would be vetted. Grant said EF performs background checks for chaperones and that parents can participate but must meet requirements.
Board members expressed general support for planning and asked Grant to coordinate with school administration and the superintendent’s office. No formal vote was taken; board members invited Grant to return with follow‑up details and to work with building administrators on next steps.
Grant’s contact requests and the company proposal will be coordinated through school administration before any travel contracts are signed.
