Destination 2012: Central Europe

2012 will be a busy traveling year from some students.

THS teachers Kathy Rubano and Laura Guadagnoli presented a proposed trip for students to Central Europe slated for late June 2012, at the recent Board of Education meeting. The panel approved it 6-1. All trips outside the United States must be approved by the board.

It was the third trip the school panel has approved.

The trip will be an interdisciplinary study taking students to Berlin, Prague, Krakow and Budapest, with an option to go to Vienna. Travelers will tour cities, see historical sites, visit museums and sample the foods, languages and cultures of the various countries.

The tour will help students "develop a cultural awareness by experiencing and comparing life in Europe," according to trip documents.

The students will see a range of cultural highlights – castles, parliament buildings and cathedrals, as well as those that have left negative impressions – Auschwitz, the Berlin Wall and Checkpoint Charlie.

The trip is being planned and led by Explorica, a tour company THS has used several times with positive results. It will be open to up to 28 THS students, who will travel with two teachers and five chaperones. The cost will be $3,050 per traveler.

Board Chair Edward Lovely asked how the trip enhances the curriculum. Guadagnoli responded that “students are exposed to the cultures, languages and foods of other countries beginning in their freshman year.”

She added that this trip will help students learn about the positives as well as the negatives, “in hopes that they can help prevent these terrible things from happening again.”

Discussion focused on three issues.

“My only concern is cost. We’re trying to get $100 for sports and you’re asking $3,100,” said Board member Michael Ward.

Rubano responded, “It’s voluntary,” and Ms. Guadagnoli added, “Students find a range of ways to pay.”

Rubano noted that her daughter baked pies her father carried on the train to New York to help pay for a choir trip to Italy.

Board member Loretta Chory said, “Summer is family time,” and asked if “we’ve done any summer trips like this?”

School Supt. Ralph Iassogna said he could not “recollect any other trips.”

Member Lisa Labella defended the trip. “It’s important to see how others live,” she said. “The market will decide if these are good trips. [I do] not see a difference between travel and sports and band in the summer.”

Questions were also asked about Explorica – whether they are the best tour provider and whether this was the best price available.

The teachers responded that the school has been more than satisfied with the company. Explorica has gone beyond the norm when problems arise, they said.

Guadagnoli added that they have offered allowances toward parts of trips. One example was a $300 payment during the recent trip to France that funded a dinner for the travelers.

She said they had spoken with another company that provided certain benefits, but Explorica’s package plus THS’ satisfaction with them led to their choice.

Chory voted against the trip.