Budget Cut Cans Field Trip Chaperons

The Middlesex Middle School's celebrated trips to Colebrook and Boston have survived the Board of Education's budget cuts. Or have they? Chaperons for the sixth and eighth grade trips have been slashed from the recommended budget, and it's a cut some board members fear indirectly cans the residential field trips altogether.

"I support this cut in chaperons, recognizing it will go on the backs of the parents," said Chairperson Kimberly Westcott.

With the economy down and state funding slashed, field trip proposals have become a sticking point for school officials. Where learning beyond the context of the classroom is important, funding field trips is expensive. The board voted on Tuesday to cut $23,000 from the middle school's proposed clubs and councils budget, eliminating the $200 chaperon stipends allocated for the sixth grade Expo, a three-day overnight program at Camp Jewel in Colebrook, Connecticut, and the eighth grade's "Colonial experience" in Boston, Mass. The cut met board members with mixed reviews.

Co-Chairperson Betsy Hagerty Ross, whose son took the Colebrook, emphasized the importance of the Expo as fundamental to the sixth grade curriculum.

"It wasn't until my son came home and told me about the trip that I became aware of the curriculum tie-in. It's all related to their English studies, and it really helps bolster students' lessons in transcendentalism," Ross said.

George Reilly seconded Ross's enthusiasm for the trips, noting the "continually good feedback," from students, parents and teachers alike. But Morgan Whittier said it was the cost of the trip, not the value of the experience itself that moved the $23,000 item to the chopping block. He suggested that MMS faculty look elsewhere for budgetary support.

"If administration is still committed to the field trips," he said, "They might come up with some other funds."

At over $500, the trips are already expensive, said Ross; asking parents to fork over additional money and time to help organize supervision is a bit rich.

"Another $50 might make the trip out of bounds," Ross said.

Asking parents to chip in is reasonable, said James Plutte, where Darien taxpayers at large would otherwise be left to pick up the bill.

"If you don't have the cut, taxpayers as a whole pay for it," he said.

Westcott had the final word before motioning to vote.

"We're going to have to rely on the parents a little more for parts of our budget next year," she said.

The motion to cut a $23,000 from the Middlesex Middle School's clubs and councils budget passed seven to two. Reilly and Ross voted against.