Board hears proposal for volunteer‑led Spain/Portugal student trip with EF Tours

A staff member presented a proposal for a volunteer‑led international trip for students to Spain and Portugal in August 2027. The trip would be organized through EF (Educational Tours), a third‑party tour operator; the presenter emphasized that the trip is independently organized by volunteers and families pay the tour company directly.

Key details in the presentation: the itinerary included Lisbon, Algarve, Seville, Granada, Valencia and Barcelona across roughly 12 days (sample dates Aug. 2–19, 2027). The packet listed prices of about $4,859 per student and $5,008.59 per adult; EF would supply a 24/7 tour director, hotels, many meals and tour tickets, while families would be responsible for lunches/snacks and any optional extras. The presenter said the company handles insurance, travel protections and emergency support and that the district’s insurance does not cover overseas travel for student trips.

Administrators clarified that the activity would be treated as an independent, volunteer‑led trip: organizers may request facilities use for meetings, but the district would not underwrite the trip. Presenters discussed measures such as background checks, a plan to hold passports securely and family fundraising pages offered by the tour operator to help students afford costs. The board indicated it would share the trip materials with families and allow volunteer organizers to proceed with outreach if they comply with district facilities‑use and ethics rules.