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Board Approves Student Trip to Italy, Updates Athletic Handbook and Policies
Summary
The Fountain Hills board approved a 10-night EF Tours trip to Italy for middle- and high-school students despite liability concerns about younger travelers; the board also approved an updated athletic handbook, board meeting dates and Indian policies and procedures. Several votes drew substantive discussion but passed by voice vote.
The Fountain Hills Unified School District governing board voted to approve a district-sponsored student trip to Italy (May 29–June 8, 2023) after extended discussion about liability and appropriateness for middle-school participants.
Administration presented the itinerary and identified teachers Luke Saltzman and Chris Peterson as trip organizers. Several board members said they were uneasy about sending seventh- and eighth-grade students overseas given liability concerns and the long travel times; one member said it felt "like a huge liability for our district." Supporters noted that EF Tours separates middle- and high-school travelers and that parents choose whether to enroll children.
After debate the board approved the trip by voice vote (motion and second; those voting in favor were recorded as "ayes" with at least one "nay" announced during the roll call). The board asked staff to require parental signatures acknowledging that tax-credit donations used to offset trip costs are not refundable under tax-credit rules.
Votes at a glance
- Approval of prior meeting minutes: Motion passed by voice vote. - Consent agenda (donations, accounts-payable vouchers, personnel actions): Approved by voice vote. - 2022–23 board meeting dates (move to 6:00 p.m.): Approved by voice vote. - Athletic handbook (2022–23): Approved after discussion; members asked staff to clarify eligibility and ineligibility processes. - Student trip to Italy (05/29/2023–06/08/2023): Motion to approve passed by voice vote; at least one board member recorded a nay. - Indian policies and procedures (impact-aid related): Approved unanimously by voice vote.
What happens next: Staff will collect signed parental acknowledgements for the Italy trip, continue to refine athletic eligibility language tied to board policy, and return revised regulations and exhibits (reduction-in-force regulation, public-participation regulation, fundraising exhibit) for additional review at a study session.
