School committee approves 8th-grade Washington, D.C., trip; per-student cost $1,535

The Medfield School Committee on Thursday approved an 8th-grade trip to Washington, D.C., tentatively scheduled for May 2026, after an informational presentation that addressed cost, logistics and contingency planning.

The trip organizer told the committee the all-inclusive price is $1,535 per student and that scholarships and payment plans will be available. "This year's trip is $1,535 per student," the organizer said, adding that the district budgets and community fundraising help make the trip accessible; recent community donations included $10,000 from veterans groups and $6,000 from the Lions to the district scholarship fund.

Trip planning will include an informational webinar for families, payment-plan options and optional trip-insurance packages; the organizer said building insurance into every package previously would have increased the base cost to about $1,900 per student, so insurance will be optional. The organizer also described contingency planning for increased security or potential federal closures and said tour-provider partners have alternate itineraries ready.

A motion to approve the trip was made and passed by voice vote; the committee recorded affirmative voice responses and the chair said the motion "passes." The trip leader said they will share webinar details with families the next day.

Committee members asked about the decision to include a stop in New York City on the way to Washington and whether flying had been priced; the organizer explained the routing choices, accessibility considerations, tradeoffs between bus and air travel, and the district’s earlier decision to contract with Grand Classroom to reduce cost compared with other vendors.

The committee did not modify the request; administrators and the trip leader will provide families with further webinar and payment information.