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Board reviews proposed 2027 student tour of Germany, France, Spain and Portugal; travel vendor EF outlined safety and payment options
Summary
Teachers proposed a 16-day student tour of Germany, France, Spain and Portugal for summer 2027 through Education First (EF); the board heard details on itinerary, cost inclusions, safety, scholarships and flexible enrollment windows to keep monthly payments affordable.
The Schuylkill Valley School District board on April 29 reviewed a proposal for a 16-day student trip to Germany, France, Spain and Portugal in the summer of 2027, presented by German teacher Mrs. Aldorfer and Spanish teacher Mrs. Saucer.
The proposed itinerary would include Munich and Heidelberg in Germany; Paris and a portion of southern France; Madrid and Barcelona in Spain; and two nights in Lisbon, Portugal. The trip would include round-trip airfare, hotels, breakfast and dinner daily, a tour director assigned by Education First (EF), local guides, transportation on a private coach and sightseeing and admissions indicated on the itinerary. Students would be responsible for lunch and personal expenses. Mrs. Aldorfer said the group would seek to enroll at least 35 students to secure a private tour for the district; if fewer students enroll the school would be combined with another group and dates could shift within the travel window.
Aldorfer described EF as a long-established student-travel company with offices in the countries visited and global incident-response capacity. She said EF provides a “peace of mind” enrollment option and that early enrollment discounts (for example, $200 off within the first two weeks after enrollment opens) and monthly payment plans can keep costs manageable for families. Scholarships and a tour-donation page are available to help students fund their participation, she said.
Board members asked about inclusions and safety. Aldorfer confirmed the published price covers airfare, hotels, most meals indicated in the itinerary, local guides and admissions. She said EF’s on-the-ground staff helped districts during COVID to repatriate travelers and that EF has liability insurance and risk protocols; the district would require parents to provide health/allergy information so restaurants and guides can make accommodations.
The board did not vote on the trip at the meeting; staff said a parent meeting would be scheduled if the board approves the proposal at an upcoming meeting and that early enrollment would help students secure lower monthly payments.
