Media Release
For Immediate Release
Tuesday, February 28, 2017
Planned School Trips to the United States to Be Reviewed and Future Trips to Be Paused Until Greater Certainty Established
VICTORIA, BC听鈥撎齌ravel restrictions recently introduced, and continuing to evolve, in the United States听have triggered听a review of听all听planned student travel to the United States.
On Monday night, the Board of Education supported the Superintendent in reviewing all immediate听school听trips planned for the United States and to meet with staff, students and parents about these pending trips to determine听whether or how they occur听to听minimize听risks to all students, staff and chaperones.
All听future trips听early in their planning process,听where听funds听have not听yet听been听committed,听will be听encouraged to find听alternate destinations听in Canada and other听countries where all students can travel without risk of denied entry based on faith or ethnicity. Until听more certainty and clarity is established regarding travel restrictions, no听future trips to the United States听will be planned.
鈥溎⒐绞悠礽os is governed by values, and it is听our听values of tolerance, understanding听and听equity that must guide our decision-making,鈥� noted Board Chair Edith Loring-Kuhanga. 鈥淲e are One Learning Community and no student should be deprived of opportunity based on their race, religion or ethnicity.鈥�
In recognition of the听students potentially affected and听financial听commitments made to trips in听immediate weeks, the Superintendent听will consult parents and students and will make determinations听on immediate trips听on a case-by-case basis.
The District will continue to work with Canadian authorities to seek clarity and as new information is received about US travel restrictions the district will review and adapt as needed.
Additional background:
- Memo to Board of Education听鈥� February 27, 2017 agenda
- Letter to parents听鈥淎ll Students Belong Here鈥�
Media Contact: Katie Hamilton, 250.475.4103