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By BONNIE ADAMS badams@leader.net
Thursday, March 20, 2003 Page: 5A
WILKES-BARRE – School officials’ concerns about terrorism related to war
with Iraq have prompted some to postpone or cancel student trips abroad and to
major U.S. cities.
Others said they are discussing the trips and will continue to re-evaluate
them in relation to world events.
Meyers High School Principal Robert Okrasinski said he decided this week it
would not be a good time for Wilkes-Barre Area students to visit Washington,
D.C.
About 60 Meyers juniors and seniors from social studies and modern language
classes had planned to visit Washington today.
“I just felt it was prudent for us to postpone,” he said. Okrasinski
watched President Bush’s address to the nation Monday night. At the same time,
federal authorities raised the nation’s domestic terror threat level from
elevated to high.
Okrasinski said one concerned parent was unwilling to send a child on the
Meyers trip. Three other parents called the school Tuesday morning asking
whether the trip would take place.
He said students were paying for the field trip, which included a tour of
the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. He said he didn’t know the per-student
cost, but their money will be refunded.
Wyoming Area students will not take field trips to major U.S. cities until
further notice. Superintendent Ray Bernardi made the decision this week out of
concern for student safety after the national threat level was increased.
The decision could jeopardize an Advanced Placement history class trip
Washington, later this school year. Bernardi said the district travel
restriction will not apply to local school trips.
Diocese of Scranton spokeswoman Maria Orzel said Bishop Hafey High School
in Hazleton canceled student trips to Mexico and France. There will be a
meeting this week to discuss a Disney World trip that school cheerleaders won
in a competition.
Dallas Superintendent Gilbert Griffiths plans to meet tomorrow with
administrators to discuss student trips.
Wyoming Seminary spokeswoman Gail Smallwood said school officials met this
week regarding upcoming trips to metropolitan areas. “At this point, nothing
has been canceled. Smallwood said trips are planned to New York City,
Washington, Boston, Baltimore and Philadelphia.
Crestwood Assistant Superintendent Richard Duffy said trips are planned to
Baltimore, Great Adventure amusement park in New Jersey and to Hershey. “As of
today, nothing has been canceled. We will be assessing the situation daily.
The Lake-Lehman School Board Tuesday night discussed upcoming field trips
to Baltimore, New York City and Washington, but made no decisions.
Superintendent Robert Roberts asked the board whether the district should
reconsider its trips. He acknowledged that a lot of money could be lost, but
in the scheme of things, it might be worth it.
Board President Michelle Coombs said the decision to send children should
be left up to parents. The board decided that a special meeting will be held,
if needed, to vote on the matter.
Deputy Chief Counsel Emily Leader with the Pennsylvania School Boards
Association said a handful of districts have contacted the organization
seeking guidance about their rights in canceling school trips. Leader said
those rights depend on the contract a district has with a commercial
transportation provider.
She said school districts in general would not be held liable in case of a
terrorist attack. But Leader said the districts contacting the association are
not asking about liability, they just want to protect their children while
trying to provide them with varied educational experiences.
Ed Deets of Auto-Bus in Mountain Top said no schools have canceled trips
with the company.
Martz Trailways Vice President Ted Patton said the company has quite a few
student trips booked for the remainder of the school year. He said only one
school canceled a trip to Washington, D.C., but he would not specify which
school. Patton said the company is refunding the money.
Bonnie Adams, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7241.
Staff writer Kalen Churcher contributed to this article.