School committee approves Franklin High trip to Portugal; staff outline scholarships and fundraising options

The Franklin School Committee unanimously approved a nine-day Franklin High School student trip to Portugal in April 2027 after a presentation by teacher Christopher Penza describing the itinerary (Porto, Lisbon, Sintra and the Atlantic coast). Penza said the trip will take place during April vacation so students will not miss class time.

Why it matters: Committee approval allows the school to begin parent presentations, finalize itineraries and open registration while staff outlined ways to reduce cost barriers for students through organizer credits, an EF Global Citizen scholarship and student fundraising pages.

Penza said Franklin High has partnered with EF Tours since 2001 and that organizers will present a detailed itinerary at a parent meeting scheduled for Sept. 30. "We can use those credits to provide student scholarships," Penza said, explaining that credits the district has earned through past trips can be placed in a Franklin High School account and then awarded as scholarships. He added that EF offers a Global Citizen scholarship of up to $1,000 and that students can set up EF-hosted fundraising pages to solicit community donations.

Committee members asked about cost and access. Penza said the school will assemble a parent/student presentation explaining payment options, scholarship application processes and suggested fundraisers. The committee voted on the trip by roll call; all present voted yes.

The committee also approved the broader district and school improvement plans later in the meeting. Penza's trip motion and the subsequent approval were recorded in the meeting roll call.