Trustees at the Exeter Regional Cooperative School District meeting pressed teachers and the travel operator on safety planning for a proposed student trip to Morocco after recent civil unrest and security alerts in the country.

Several trustees, led by Neil Blaken, said they were concerned about demonstrations, media reports and a June 12 Department of State advisory mentioning increased regional tensions. Board members asked what extra precautions Grand Classroom Student Travel and the local partners in Morocco were taking, how students would be accompanied, and what contingency plans existed should conditions deteriorate.

Representatives from Grand Classroom and faculty chaperones described the trip as a standard school-tour itinerary focused on tourist sites, accompanied at all times by native guides and a destination-management partner (DMC). Grand Classroom said vendors and hotels are vetted, the group travels by private motor coach, and the company maintains evacuation and incident-management protocols and regular communication channels with teachers and parents. Chaperones said they plan parent and student briefings in advance and that the itinerary focuses on tourist sites.

Trustee Blaken made a motion to revoke the board
permission for the Morocco trip, citing recent protests and an embassy demonstration alert. The chair asked for a second; no second was recorded and the motion did not proceed to a vote. The board did not revoke permission at the meeting.

Board members pressed on practical consequences: if the district or board were to cancel the trip, many families have already paid final costs and plane tickets are nonrefundable; refunds would be subject to individual travel-insurance policies. The travel operator confirmed that final payments were due next month and that, if organizers cancel, refunds would depend on airline and vendor refund rules and on whether families purchased travel insurance.

Board members requested continued communication from trip organizers to parents and the board. Chaperones and the travel operator said they would continue regular updates and planned parent meetings about safety measures and contingency plans.