N-O-W drops Japan tour, considers trips to Greece or Ireland instead

A proposed 2019 trip to Japan generated scant interest among Brookwood students, but at Monday’s board of education meeting, Harvey Menn, the coordinator of the school tours, recommended Greece or Ireland as alternatives.

Asking students’ opinions, Menn had learned that the Japan trip’s cost — more than $4,000 — had been a significant factor in deterring students from signing up, he said. Students also preferred traveling to Europe, he added.

In recreating the tour plans, Menn was mindful of avoiding big cities with “an ISIS history,” he said.

Greece would be his first choice, he added. The Greece trip would cost $2,630; and the Ireland trip, $2,480.

If the board approves a trip, and if strife or violence develops within the next 23 months in that region, it could change the location.

Superintendent Kelly Burhop left the decision to the board, saying, “I always have a concern about safety. That’s my nature. But it’s also nice to get our kids out to see the world.”

In the end, the board approved changing the tour from Japan to Greece.

Other business

• The Norwalk-Ontario-Wilton School District will make up four snow days: June 2 and June 5–7.

• N-O-W had received notice of a 19 percent increase from its health insurance provider, Health Partners. After N-O-W got a quote from another provider with a 13 percent hike, Health Partners lowered its increase to 12 percent. The N-O-W School District will remain with Health Partners.

• The district has not yet given raises for the next year, but did send out letters of intent to all teachers and bus drivers, indicating they would be hired back at a rate no lower than that of their current contracts.

The board will revisit raises after state and federal funding levels are settled.

• Saying he regretted the measure, Burhop noted that according to federal regulations, the district had to raise school lunches by 10 cents a piece. The board approved the recommendation.

• The board agreed to place sod on an area that had been damaged when a Town and Country Sanitation truck rolled onto it in icy conditions in February.

• 3RT Networks will reconfigure the school’s wireless access to increase coverage and power. Grants will cover 90 percent of the cost.

• Board members agreed to rebid its project to redo part the school driveway (from the area where it veers north toward the bus garage to the lower end of the parking lot). They were not satisfied with the thickness of the asphalt included in the two bids they had received — 3 and 3 ½ inches — and will request 4 inches instead.

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