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Marana board approves Mountain View student council trip to Greece after questions on cost and access
Summary
The Marana Unified School District governing board approved an out-of-state trip for Mountain View High School student council members to Greece (March 14–20, 2026) after a lengthy public discussion about cost, participant selection and vendor relationships. The motion passed 4-1.
The Marana Unified School District governing board voted to approve an out-of-state travel request for Mountain View High School’s student council to travel to Greece March 14–20, 2026.
Board members discussed the trip’s cost, participant eligibility and vendor relationships before the roll call. The motion to approve the travel passed with four votes in favor and one against: President Holt, Miss Macronis, and Mr. Alexander voted aye; Mr. Carlson voted no; Miss Raymond voted yes.
The travel request covers a trip organized through EF Tours, with a listed per-student cost of $4,729. The agenda packet and presenters stated parents pay the student costs; chaperones generally do not pay because the tour operator provides free chaperone placements based on the number of paying students. The travel request listed four adult chaperones: the student council advisor, two administrators and an additional Mountain View staff member. District staff said the district expects a student-to-adult ratio near 10-to-1.
Board members queried how participants were selected and whether the trip should be limited to student council members. One board member said the trip is structured as a student council leadership experience comparable to other student-council or leadership trips the district has approved in the past, while another board member pressed whether other Mountain View students would have comparable travel opportunities.
Questions were also raised about EF Tours’ ownership and potential conflicts of interest. District staff said EF Tours is a widely used national tour operator and that they were not aware of any conflict of interest with the company. Board members asked whether parents were informed that part of the contract can provide chaperones at no charge and that the district’s practice is to require adult chaperones for student safety.
Discussion also reviewed the trip’s funding structure. The travel materials referenced use of Arizona state tax-credit funds as one option students and families can apply toward the trip; the materials listed a tax-credit amount tied to funding for the trip. District staff said fundraising and tax-credit payments are common components of overseas student travel.
After discussion and questions from board members, the board approved the travel request by roll call.
The board did not amend the travel authorization or specify additional conditions at the time of the vote.
Votes at a glance: Out-of-state travel for Mountain View High School student council to Greece — Approved, roll call 4–1 (Holt Aye, Macronis Aye, Alexander Aye, Carlson No, Raymond Yes).
