School trips overseas indefinitely postponed

As student and staff safety is always at the forefront of our minds, the district feels that traveling abroad has become increasingly unsafe.”

Lisa Ruiz, school superintendent

In the midst of growing fear regarding global terrorism, East Rockaway High School administrators and the Board of Education have decided to no longer hold the annual European Cultural Trip, which was offered to 9th to 12th graders during spring recess in the past.

“As student and staff safety is always at the forefront of our minds, the district feels that traveling abroad has become increasingly unsafe,” said Lisa Ruiz, East Rockaway High School superintendent, “and given the current state of world affairs, there is a higher risk associated with international travel at this time.”

The last trip abroad was in April when students, parents and staff members traveled to Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Randi O’Moore, who attended last school year’s trip with her son, Daniel, a sophomore at the time, said the trip was “beyond fabulous.”

“How wonderful an opportunity is it for a young person before they get out of high school to travel the world?” O’Moore said. “They get to see different places and learn about history. It was just a wonderful, wonderful opportunity.”

Though O’Moore enjoyed the journey abroad and praised the teachers for making it a learning experience for students and parents alike, she said she could see why the decision to cancel it was made.

“I understand,” O’Moore said. “I’m a parent and I enjoy traveling. However, I really do respect that it is a huge responsibility for our school district to book the trip and feel responsible for people’s children in the world that we’re living in right now.”

The suicide bombings in Brussels last March were a factor in the decision to abandon the European excursion in the future, according to Ruiz. The BOE collaborated with East Rockaway High School administrators prior to making the choice to forego the trip during several meetings between April and June.

Ruiz said administrators and the board would continue to monitor the possibility of bringing back the overseas trip in the future. Despite not having a replacement outing in the works, she said there are still exciting events for students outside of New York. Those include a Washington, D.C. trip for 8th graders and various overnight events for sports teams and the music department.

The average tour size for the European trip was 25-30 people, which included students, chaperones and staff members. On last year’s journey, only 16 students attended. Though there has been some disappointment among the student body and staff, Nick Cimorelli, an East Rockaway teacher and the former coordinator of the European trips, expressed his understanding of the decision.

“Obviously safety is the most important concern,” Cimorelli said. “I am disappointed, but I understand that the board is in a position that they have to look out for the safety of everybody. They have a much larger responsibility for the whole student body and safety of everybody, so I think that takes precedent.”