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Agawam teachers outline proposed Paris trip for advanced French students, committee asks about equity and fundraising
Summary
A French teacher presented a proposal for a student trip to Paris in 2026, describing curriculum alignment, a 1:6 chaperone ratio and multiple fundraising ideas; committee members pressed on caps, equity for Title I families and passport logistics.
Megan Powers, a French teacher at Agawam High School, presented a proposal to take advanced French students to Paris during an April 2026 school vacation window to support language immersion, history and cultural instruction.
Powers told the committee she provided a printed packet with a detailed itinerary and a handbook for administration and liability review: "I've provided a paper printout copy for you all, which includes the presentation ... in addition to the detailed itinerary to the trip to Paris and a handbook designed for school administration and school committees to review for liability." She said the itinerary would keep students busy from about 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on full days and that the trip targets French 5 and French 4 students, with exceptionally qualified level-3 students also eligible.
Powers described operational safeguards and access measures: the travel company provides a 1:6 chaperone ratio and payment plans; she listed fundraising ideas including car washes, raffles, trivia nights and calendar raffles to reduce per-student costs. Committee members asked whether the district planned a cap on participants, how fundraising proceeds would be distributed equitably and how families would handle passport costs. Powers said there was no firm cap yet, an ideal group size would be 12–18 students but the school would try to accommodate more provided adequate chaperones, and that passport applications would be handled by families following company timelines.
Several committee members stressed equity for Title I families and urged aggressive fundraising. Miss McDougall noted the packet referenced an early-enrollment discount date (Dec. 1, 2024) and Powers said the company would modify that deadline as needed. Powers said enrollment and fundraising would begin if the committee approves the trip.
The committee did not take a formal vote on the trip at this meeting; members asked the administration to return with any additional clarifications about cost-sharing, caps and logistics. The proposal will advance only if the committee grants approval in a future agenda item.
