District 128 administration briefed the Program & Personnel Committee on Sept. 8 about a proposed student educational tour to Finland, Sweden and Denmark, and asked trustees whether families should be required to buy "cancel for any reason" insurance for an Education First Tours itinerary that lists a base cost of about $4,700 per student.

School staff said the custom Scandinavia trip is targeted at students who have taken or are interested in AP or college‑prep psychology and geography but will be open to other interested students. The organizers expect the trip to connect directly to curriculum by visiting schools, parks, community centers and government institutions, and by including wellness activities such as yoga and hiking.

Why it matters: international trips carry higher costs and uncertainty; administrators told the committee the tour company provides a suite of protections (24/7 emergency support, a global travel protection program and a "Peace of Mind" flexibility policy) but that "cancel for any reason" insurance would add about $590 to the $4,700 base price — more than a 10 percent premium. Making that extra insurance optional could lower the upfront cost for families but increase individual financial risk.

Details and committee reaction
District staff said Education First Tours offers built‑in protections including a 24/7 emergency service and refund options if incidents occur before departure; the company will also provide flexibility to change dates or destinations under a "Peace of Mind" program. The administration asked whether the board would be comfortable allowing families to decide whether to purchase additional cancel‑for‑any‑reason coverage.

Administrators said the trip requires a target minimum of 30 students at the $4,700 price point; the tour company could accept fewer students but the per‑student price would rise. Staff also said the company is willing to provide the cancel‑for‑any‑reason option and that the trip sponsor would hold a parent meeting pending board approval so families could begin monthly payment plans.

Discussion vs. decision
Committee members asked for written details of the tour company's protections and the cancel‑for‑any‑reason policy; administrators agreed to include the coverage details in the upcoming board packet. The committee did not vote on the tour; staff said the Scandinavia itinerary would appear on the consent agenda at the full board meeting later in the month and could be pulled for discussion if trustees requested.

Next steps
Staff will provide a detailed packet describing the Education First Tours protections and the optional cancel‑for‑any‑reason coverage, confirm whether higher participation reduces the base price further and place the tour on the consent agenda for board consideration later in September. Administrators said they plan to require at least one year of advance notice for future international trips.