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Board approves Novi Middle School Washington, D.C., trip after debate over rising costs and access
Summary
Trustees approved the proposed Washington, D.C., eighth‑grade field trip but discussed increasing trip costs, scholarship capacity and a possible dedicated coordinator or fundraising approach to improve affordability for families.
The Novi Community School District Board of Education voted 7‑0 on Jan. 13 to approve the 2025 Washington, D.C., eighth‑grade field trip after an extended discussion about sharply rising prices and whether the district should do more to make the trip affordable.
"I'm not opposed to this trip, but I wanted to bring this situation to the attention of the board," Trustee Betsy Beaudwine said during the information discussion that preceded the vote. Beaudwine told the board that the trip had risen from about $1,011 (including insurance) three years ago to roughly $1,600 this year without insurance, with insurance adding around $200.
School staff and trustees described available supports: Novi Youth Assistance, the Novi Education Foundation (NEF), school PTOs and other community groups have provided scholarships in prior years. Dr. Carino, a district administrator who oversees the program, said the trip leader had researched alternative vendors and pricing; she warned that switching travel providers in the middle of planning could limit perks (such as medical support the vendor provides) and would compress parent timelines because the vendor's early‑pricing deadline is Jan. 30.
Board members raised equity concerns and options to reduce costs going forward. Trustees suggested creating a dedicated non‑instructional coordinator to run logistics and fundraising, staging earlier fundraising in seventh grade, expanding district‑level fundraising pools (class‑level or district scholarship funds rather than strictly family‑by‑family fundraising), and making scholarship processes less stigmatizing for families in need. Trustee Daniel Ruskin and others urged sensitivity to families who cannot afford repeated large expenses for multiple children.
Trustee Mary Anne Rooney said the district had sent roughly 380 students on the trip last year; Beaudwine said about 13% of students at the middle school are on free‑ or reduced‑price lunch and questioned whether existing scholarship capacity would be sufficient. "We could do some type of fundraising…as a class, our goal is to do this and then now we've brought the trip price down," one trustee said during the discussion.
Administrators noted the district is recruiting for a coordinator to manage the DC trip and other travel programs; the board and several trustees said a dedicated position could help centralize fundraising and reduce per‑family cost over time. Staff also said the departing trip advisor has agreed to help bridge the transition.
Despite the concerns, Trustee Beaudwine moved to approve the trip and Trustee Willie Mena seconded; the motion carried 7‑0. Staff said the approval would preserve the vendor's early‑pricing schedule and allow parents to register under the current timeline.
Ending: Trustees asked staff to explore longer‑term solutions — including fundraising models, a potential coordinator role, and clearer scholarship pathways — to keep the trip affordable in future years.
