The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Students’ D.C. trip canceled again
TORRINGTON — Middle school teacher Jason LaFreniere has led a group of students on a trip to Washington, D.C., each May for ten years.
But this year, for the second year in a row, the Board of Education again has canceled the trip.
Board members this year cited concerns about safety for students, faculty chaperones and parents, as well as refunds if the company providing transportation decided to cancel it.
LaFreniere sees the excursion as an opportunity for kids to spend quality time together outside of school.
“The trip has run successfully for 10 years,” LaFreniere said. “It’s the highlight of my school year, to be with the kids in D.C. People have always supported it, because of the benefits — not just educational, but social and emotional; and showing them that there’s a world outside of Torrington.”
During their meeting Wednesday, school board members talked about the impact of the trip this year. The transportation company set a date for cancellations, meaning that if anyone backed out they would lose their 25 percent deposit. If parents chose to buy insurance to cover the cost, that money also would not be refunded.
There also was the issue of losing faculty members who signed up to travel with the students. A number of parents also
signed up to accompany the 68 students who were registered. In the past, more than double that number of students have attended.
The transportation company recommended that everyone taking the trip should quarantine for two weeks. They’d also be expected to quarantine upon their return, per state recommendations.
“The fact that the travel company wants people to quarantine two weeks ahead is an issue,” said board chairperson Fiona Cappabianca.
According to LaFreniere, students would share hotel rooms in groups of four. The group would would be able to visit landmarks like the Capitol, but some of the tours and activities were unlikely.
The refunds also were a worry, LaFreniere said. “We usually fundraise for the trip, but we weren’t able to do that during the (school) year.”
The school board asked LaFreniere to provide a list of participants.
“We’ll need to find out who’s signed up and how much they’ve paid,” Faulenbach said. “It’s disappointing, I know.”
LaFreniere was disappointed, too, but said he understood the board’s concerns.
“The board canceled the trip due to concerns about precautions and cancellations
related to COVID-19, and requirements for travel,” he said. “The Board of Education just feels it’s too much of a risk.”
Full payments were due by March 11. “If we worked against that date
and then had to cancel, the board members were concerned about the financial loss to families,” LaFreniere said.
He told the families involved Thursday night. “It’s kind of hard, being in
a hybrid situation, to talk to the kids, so I thought it was best to reach out to the parents,” he said. “The parents were very supportive; they were understanding, and disappointed.”
“There was trip insurance, but it was optional, and if they bought it, they’ll be out that money, but everything they’ve paid out of pocket for the trip, they’ll get it back, minus 25 percent,” he said. “The Board of Education is going to determine how much that will be.”
LaFreniere is hopeful for a trip in 2022. “I hope it will be restored,” he said.