Aliyya Swaby Photo
Haxhi.
The Board of Education has voted to approve New Haven schools’ international trips for the coming year, after a debate over perils in the modern era of terrorism..
The vote at Monday night’s board meeting followed the latest in string of debates on school trips abroad.
At a March meeting, many members voiced concerns about approving such trips, in light of terrorist attacks in Europe.
But tables turned Monday night, as the board voted 6 – 1 to accept all proposed trips in 2017 except for the Sound School’s April trip to Mexico. The Department of State has issued a travel warning for La Paz, Baja California Sur — one of the destinations for the Sound School’s trip — and has noted that the Mexican state registered its highest homicide rate ever as of October 2015.
Approved destinations include Canada, Nicaragua, Italy, China, Spain, Greece and Peru.
Jessica Haxhi, New Haven schools’ supervisor of world languages, presented the list of trips to Monday’s board meeting, which took place at L.W. Beecher School.
All board members but Michael Nast voted to proceed with the trips.
“I will be voting against all of them. Based on the principle of how the world is right now, I think we should take a year off,” Nast declared before the votie.
“I’m concerned about Zika. I’m concerned about Ebola,” he continued.
Board member Darnell Goldson stressed the important of letting students “explore the world.” He was backed by Alicia Caraballo, who said her only concern was that nobody knows what willhappen in the next few months.
Carlos Torre acknowledged the need to be vigilant. But he assured the board that what they voted on was going to be closely monitored, meaning if unpredictable events come up, there is always room for change.
Jacob Spell, the new student board member who was sworn in on Monday, said he would approve the trips if he could vote. Being exposed to different cultures helps students form an understanding of diversity and develops tolerance for differences, Spell said.
In the same vote, the board gave Haxhi the permission to work with trip leaders on a case-by-case basis to locate and purchase cancellation insurance. This will maximize the board’s ability to cancel trips, if necessary, without causing too much financial impact on families, Haxhi said.