The Swampscott School Committee on Jan. 9 unanimously approved an overnight field trip for Swampscott High School’s robotics team to attend a First Robotics Competition at the University of Vermont in Burlington; the committee did not specify the exact competition dates.

The trip was presented as an out-of-state, overnight competition requiring registration, hotel and meal costs. Presenters said the per-student charge for this trip is $300, which the team plans to apply to hotel, transportation and two nights of meals; additional registration fees apply as teams advance.

The robotics team’s student representative said the program faces a growing funding gap. “We are operating basically by begging people for money in the community,” the student said, describing lost corporate sponsorships since the pandemic and the team’s heavy reliance on local fundraising. The presentation listed roughly $6,000 raised through recent fundraisers and an additional $4,000 that would be needed to reach state-level competition, bringing that campaign total to about $10,000, not including the robot itself.

Committee members and parents described a large and engaged student effort. Parent and School Advisory Council member Joe Ford, who has attended practices, urged support, saying there is “such a such a positive vibe in the room” and that students often stay late to work on the robot.

Committee members noted the department has requested $10,000 in the FY26 budget to support robotics. A district official clarified that an initial registration payment covers event registration only and that additional event and advancement costs will accumulate if the team advances beyond regional events.

The committee approved the trip by voice vote. No disciplinary or safety conditions were specified in the meeting record.

The team and supporters said they plan to expand booster support and pursue corporate partnerships and school-level integration through the district’s innovation pathways to reduce reliance on piecemeal fundraising.

The committee’s approval allows the team to finalize travel plans and collect student payments and any additional fundraising needed for registration and advancement fees.