Committee sends proposed Field Trip Instruction 122 back to administration for rewording

The Teaching & Learning Committee reviewed proposed revisions to Manchester School District Instruction 122 that would require the school board to approve any overnight or out‑of‑state trips and add guidance to cancel international travel automatically when the U.S. Department of State issues a Level 3 or higher advisory.

Assistant Superintendent Nicole Doherty (name appears in transcript with minor variants) told the committee the revised language is meant to clarify ambiguous prior guidance and add safeguards for international travel; the proposal also adds a procedures document labeled 122‑R and explicitly preserves the superintendent’s authority to cancel trips if new information arises.

Committee member Turner said she was not comfortable advancing the policy to the full board because the language could require board approval for routine day trips, such as one‑day trips to nearby Massachusetts destinations. Turner asked for clearer definitions of “interruption to the school calendar” and recommended consolidating overlapping bullets to avoid micromanagement of schools.

Several committee members urged consultation with principals and the school district attorney to ensure the policy balances safety and administrative efficiency. Assistant Superintendent Doherty said the intent is to ensure the board is aware of out‑of‑state travel because other states’ laws and medical systems differ and to preserve a superintendent’s right to cancel trips if necessary.

After discussion, a committee member moved, and the committee voted, to send Instruction 122 back to administration to be reworked and returned at the October meeting so planned trips later this fall can be addressed in a timely manner.