Disney World is still out as school-trip destination

Marlboro Board of Education members recently discussed whether it was in the best interest of students to include a trip to Florida among the possible locales for middle school music students to visit.

Although the board members were divided in their opinions, a majority agreed that the benefits of a trip to Florida did not outweigh the negative aspects of such a venture.

The matter was the subject of discussion on Nov. 11.

In previous years, students participating in the music programs at the Marlboro Middle School and the Marlboro Memorial Middle School were able to perform onstage at a competition in Walt Disney World, Orlando, Fla.

Parents of students who attended past trips tried to appeal to the board to reinstate the Florida trip so that other children might have the same opportunity.

The principals of both middle schools stated their opinions against going to Florida, a trip that would require students to miss three days of school.

The proposed trips for 2009 include students from the Marlboro Middle School participating in a competition in Williamsburg, Va., and Marlboro Memorial Middle School students attending an event in Hershey, Pa.

Patricia Nieliwocki, principal at the Marlboro Middle School, explained to the board that with the trip to Williamsburg, the students would miss one day of school, a Friday. The group would spend Friday and Saturday nights in Virginia and travel home on Sunday.

The trip to Williamsburg was made two years ago by students at the middle school, and Nieliwocki said students are already raising money to attend in 2009. In addition to participating in the music competition, the students will tour Colonial Williamsburg.

The principal said she would support future trips similar to the Williamsburg venture, which removed students from school for one day and extended over the weekend.

Joanmarie Penney, principal of the Marlboro Memorial Middle School, explained to board members that the school tries to arrange its trips to a historical locale, such as Williamsburg, one year and then to somewhere such as an amusement park the following year.

For 2009, Marlboro students will be competing at Hershey Park. Penney said that will allow parents to attend and watch the children perform. She said that in previous years 90 percent of the students have been able to attend the trips as a result of the school's fundraising efforts.

The main concern administrators have about reinstating the trips to Florida is the time that children would be out of school.

Almost 65 percent of the students at the Marlboro Middle School participate in a portion of the music programs, Nieliwocki told the board. With that number of students absent, teaching the remaining pupils could prove difficult as any material covered would have to be reviewed to bring the absent students up to speed upon their return.

"As educators we are saying to the board that we don't believe there is any advantage in going to Florida … in terms of the money it would take to go there, the extra liability that is involved in doing that and most particular, as an educator, having more time out of school," Superintendent of Schools David Abbott told the board.

Abbott said the district can accommodate one missed day of school, but said any more than that would not be in the best interest of the children. The superintendent said it was his opinion that the competitions, no matter where they are located, have the same benefits for the students and offer the same opportunities.

Board member Joseph Waldman said one opportunity the Florida trip would have over the other locations is that the children would have the chance to perform on the Disney stage, which he called a once-in-alifetime opportunity.

Waldman said he would love to have the board look at the trip again to find a way to make it work for the district.

Board member Michael Lilonsky passed out a music trip timeline, which showed that the first Florida trip occurred in 2000. The trip's scheduling was done in a way so students would have the chance to attend the Florida competition once during their time at the middle school, he explained.

The timeline showed that students went to Florida in 2000, to Williamsburg in 2001 and 2002, to Florida in 2003, to Ohio in 2004, to Florida in 2005, to Williamsburg in 2006 and 2007, and to Ohio in 2008.

Lilonsky said that in 2007 the board determined the Florida trip would no longer be an option for middle school students. He said Florida is one of the safest places the children can attend, as students stay on Walt Disney property.

Nieliwocki said a concern that has come about in recent years is parents being worried about the students traveling at night on buses, which is the mode of transportation.

The principals also informed those present that finding chaperones also proves a problem in planning the music trips, no matter the location. Staff members must attend the trip as chaperones, which would lead to about 10 substitute teachers for a three-day span if the Florida trip was attended, administrators noted.

Board President Cynthia Green asked the two principals if the Florida trip was still on the approved list, would they then be suggesting that trip instead of Williamsburg and Hershey.

Both principals said they would not recommend the Florida trip, as it was inappropriate for the age of the middle school students.

Board member Isaac Levy questioned what he referred to as the 180-degree turn in opinion about the Florida trip, as great excitement was seen from all sides in the past.

Penney said the excitement has not changed and is just as great for the trips that will occur in 2009.

Abbott said it is not a 180-degree turn in opinion about the music trips in general, but said in speaking with officials on the Florida trip there is just not enough gained in sending the students that far.

Board member Raymond Eng said that as an educator, he knows firsthand that minimal work is done in a classroom when a teacher is absent. Eng said he would feel more comfortable about the Florida trip if it took place over a school break and did not interfere with the academic calendar.

The majority of the board members said there were no significant changes noted that would warrant placing the Florida trip back on the approved trip list. Board members gave their stamp of approval to the current 2009 trip suggestions and said they would revisit the Florida trip issue in the future.

Contact Rebecca Morton at marlboro@gmnews.com