Board Officials Are Hesitant To Approve Senior Class Trip

Candace Braun

From Cancun to the Bahamas to Disney World, Princeton High School's class of
2005 is determined to travel to a faraway destination that includes sand and sun for their senior class trip. However, Princeton Regional School Board members aren't satisfied with the ideas that students are bringing to the table.

On Monday, Senior Class President Sasha Jean tried to convince members of the Princeton Regional School Board's program committee to allow the students to take a trip to Disney World in Orlando, as last year's seniors had done. After students presented their ideas at the Board's September meeting, they were told the trip lacked an educational component and would cut into the 180-school-day requirement.

The Board approved the high school's choir trip to Prague, Czechoslovakia, and Dresden, Germany for a week in February because the costs would be paid for through fundraising and it would be an educational experience led by high school faculty. A trip organized by students without any educational agenda made Board members wary.

"There has to be something more to the trip than going to the beach for it to be school-sponsored," said School Board President Anne Burns in a separate interview.

After researching different educational opportunities that could be part of a senior trip, Ms. Jean told the committee on Monday that Disney World seemed like the best option, since it offers a Youth Education Series program for students that includes a two- to three-hour facilitated field study program in either arts and humanities, natural science, or physical science. She told Board members that if they approved the senior trip, each student would commit to a three-hour program. In addition, only two school days would be interrupted, with a Thursday departure and a Monday return.

"The senior class has been busy this past week going over ideas," said Princeton High School Principal Gary Snyder, adding that students had offered new ideas for the trip every day, opting for the location that seemed the most "safe and secure" for a large number of students without a planned agenda like that observed by a choir, sports team, or other organized school group.

Board members still voiced concern, however, as to how the seniors would pay for the trip and how many would actually have the desire and means to go.

"I think this trip is a mistake," said School Board member Joshua Leinsdorf. "I think you'll have a lot less students [attending] than you think," he said, adding that the seniors should consider a much less costly outing that could take place after graduation, such as a day trip to the shore.

"Our senior class is very determined to participate in fundraising events," said Ms. Jean, adding that several seniors participated in a car wash on Sunday where they raised approximately $300 toward expenses. Other fundraisers such as a pancake breakfast are also scheduled to take place, she added, and the class has $2,000 available in its senior account. Altogether, Ms. Jean said she anticipated the class raising approximately $10,000 toward the trip.

If the estimated 280 seniors attended, however, that would only equate $35 per person toward the $600 trip. But if the trip attendance were similar to last year's 99 students, it would make the amount $100.

Mr. Snyder added that students could also raise money individually by selling candy.

Attendance was also an unlikely problem, said Ms. Jean, as a "Grad Nite" is scheduled in Disney World for two of the nights the seniors would be in the park. Along with exclusive use of the Magic Kingdom park, seniors would be able to attend live concerts, dances, a comedy club, and participate in karaoke.

After hearing Ms. Jean's presentation, School Board Vice President Charlotte Bialek said she would be in favor of the senior trip: "You guys have gone much further into researching this trip than you had before ... I'll say yes, definitely. I might even contribute a dollar or two."

Other Board members were still hesitant to approve the trip and asked that Ms. Jean put together a more organized, thorough report to be presented to the Board at its meeting on October 26.