School committee approves Doherty Middle School trip to Italy for 2026

The Andover School Committee voted 5-0 Thursday to approve a proposed extracurricular trip for Doherty Middle School students to travel to Italy from Feb. 12 to Feb. 22, 2026.

The trip, presented by teacher and faculty sponsor Michael Givens, is open to up to 42 seventh- and eighth-grade students and would include visits to Rome, sites on Sicily’s eastern coast including Taormina, the Naples region and Pompeii. The total student cost is expected to be $4,469, including the tour package and an option for travel insurance through the tour operator (EF Tours), Givens said.

Committee members asked about how a waiting list would be handled if demand exceeds 42 students and whether priority would be given to eighth-graders. Givens said EF Tours maintains an enrollment and waiting-list process; if the list is long the school would return to the committee to request permission to expand capacity, noting that a second bus sometimes requires additional cost because of empty seats.

Members also discussed the educational content and student preparation. Givens said the itinerary ties directly to seventh-grade social studies topics—ancient Rome and classical civilizations—and noted past practice of meeting with students multiple times before travel, leading practice trips (for example to Harvard Square) and asking students to prepare for travel logistics. Committee members suggested adding a student project such as a travel journal or post-trip presentation; Givens said he has run student-created yearbooks and portfolios after previous trips and welcomed the suggestion but noted the additional faculty time required.

The motion to approve the trip referenced the district’s APS School-Sponsored Trips and Student Travel policy. Committee member Emily DeCicero moved the motion; a second was called and the committee took a roll-call vote. The motion passed 5-0.

The committee asked staff to consider how chaperones will be chosen and whether any accompanying adults speak Italian; Givens said staff will select chaperones who enjoy working with middle school students and that language skills among chaperones were not yet finalized.

Committee members said they look forward to a spring report from students who attend the trip and suggested that returning students present to the committee after the travel.

Action details and vote: The committee approved the Doherty Middle School Italy trip by roll-call vote, 5-0.