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Teacher seeks board approval for student trip to Japan in summer 2027
Summary
A New Milford teacher presented a proposed June 2027 student trip to Japan outlining an itinerary (Tokyo, Nagoya, Hokkaido), safety and travel-protection measures, academic credit options and a timeline to lock in pricing; board members asked detailed questions about pricing, chaperone ratios and vendor disclosure.
Julia Dorshane, a district educator, told the New Milford Board of Education she is seeking board approval to lead a student trip to Japan in June 2027, describing a multi‑region itinerary that would include Tokyo, Nagoya and Hokkaido and offer hands‑on experiences such as a Toyota Museum visit, a cooking class and cultural workshops.
Dorshane said the travel provider offers mandatory leader safety training, background checks for adults, liability coverage and a "Global Travel Protection" plan that can include a cancel-for-any-reason upgrade. She said students could earn academic credit (high school or possible college credit) and that early planning is intended to spread cost through extended payment schedules and to lock in current pricing.
Board members pressed for logistical and financial detail during a question‑and‑answer period. Dorshane confirmed the trip would be open to grades 7–12, that the provider lists a 6:1 student‑to‑adult chaperone ratio and that groups above six require at least two chaperones. She said the program is pre‑set so all participants attend the same scheduled attractions; the trip price includes admissions and guided touring identified on the itinerary. The district would use its school bus to transport participants to and from the airport when available.
Board members also asked why adult pricing differed by roughly $600; Dorshane said the vendor sets those rates and she would follow up with the company. She noted the provider holds quoted pricing through Dec. 30 and recommended an informational parent meeting to explain refund and cancellation terms.
A board member later asked the superintendent’s office for guidance on disclosure obligations if staff receive any vendor benefits or incentives for repeatedly using a particular travel company; the superintendent said the district would clarify applicable ethics and policy requirements before action.
The board did not record a final vote on the trip during the work session; the item was listed for board action on the upcoming regular meeting agenda.
