School committee approves 11-day Franklin High School trip to France, England and Scotland

The Franklin School Committee on a 7‑0 roll‑call vote approved an 11‑day student trip to Paris, London and Edinburgh proposed by Franklin High School teacher Nikki Haefeli.

The trip is tentatively scheduled within a travel window of June 28–July 14, 2026, with exact dates to be determined. Committee members said the trip will be run through EF (the school’s tour provider), will include airfare, hotels, some meals and guided touring, and will rely on family payments plus fundraising to cover the per‑student cost.

Haefeli told the committee the itinerary will include three nights in Paris, three nights in London and three nights in Edinburgh, with visits to Versailles, the Louvre, the Eurostar crossing, Windsor Castle, Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle and other cultural sites. “This trip is a capital connection,” she said. “It is 3 days 3 nights in Paris, 3 Nights in London, and then 3 nights in Edinburgh.”

According to the presentation, the cost is $5,349 per student for the full 11‑day package. Families who sign up before April 18 will receive a $200 early‑booking discount. Haefeli said EF will provide a tour director and logistics support; the proposal listed fundraising pages for individual students and said the group plans additional fundraising to lower costs for families. She said the organizers hope for a roster of roughly 36–40 students and six chaperones (about a 6‑to‑1 student‑to‑adult ratio) and that families can begin monthly payment plans if they enroll now.

Committee members asked how students would be selected if demand exceeded capacity and whether there would be equitable access for students unable to pay the full cost. School leaders said students would initially be placed on a wait list, that administrators would work to expand capacity or add a second bus only in exceptional cases, and that the administration would prioritize seniors first if necessary and otherwise work with families on fundraising and payment plans. Doctor Weber and other district staff described ongoing efforts to build a more systematic travel program to expand access over time; they noted students who were out of good standing could be removed from pre‑registration and must remain in good standing to participate.

The committee’s approval came after the board voted to take the item out of order so it could be decided at the meeting. Superintendent Dr. Mark Rogers recommended approval, saying he supported the request and the educational value of the trip. A motion to approve the request was made and seconded; the committee then conducted a roll‑call vote. The roll call recorded the following votes: Griffith — yes; Charles — yes; McNeil — yes; O’Sullivan — yes; Sol Hall — yes; Gallagher — yes; Callahan — yes. The motion carried 7‑0.

Haefeli said the trip would be the district’s first summer EF trip since 2019 and emphasized that the travel provider’s price includes airfare, hotels, breakfasts and dinners, a 24‑hour tour director and included excursions (Versailles, Windsor, the ghost walk in Scotland). She asked for a parent meeting in the coming two weeks to begin signups and fundraising.

Committee members stressed they wanted clear selection criteria, ongoing reporting on fundraising and participation, and assurances that the district would monitor student conduct and eligibility before and during the trip. Staff said they would return to the committee with further logistics if the trip moves forward, including final dates, final passenger lists and any changes to the plan.

The committee’s action authorizes Franklin High School to proceed with planning and registration under the parameters presented; families will be responsible for the per‑student fee unless additional fundraising or grants reduce that cost.