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Board approves overnight trip list despite concerns about Greece trip cost
Summary
The school board approved overnight trips that include an international trip to Greece; staff said the Greece trip would be run by an international travel organization and estimated family costs at $1,400–$1,700, prompting affordability concerns from members.
The Merrimack Valley School Board on June 1 approved the district’s list of overnight trips for next year, including an 8th-grade trip to Camp Cody and a proposed international trip to Greece.
Staff noted that the Greece trip would be organized through an international school-travel organization rather than a previously used vendor. "We were going to need to use a travel agency to run the trip … so that we didn't incur financial liability should the trip have to be canceled," a staff member said, explaining why the district planned to run the trip through an agency. Board members raised cost concerns after staff estimated the family expense could be roughly $1,400 to $1,700 per family.
Despite the affordability concerns, the board moved and approved the overnight trips packet. Members asked staff to follow up with vendor details and to consider affordability options for families. The board did not change the approval but directed staff to provide more information about the travel operator and cost mitigation steps.
Next steps: building staff will provide vendor identification and additional affordability information to the board before final trip arrangements are publicized.
