The Hamilton County school board on Thursday rejected an international field trip for students to visit four European countries, citing the current global climate.
Students from the Chattanooga Center for Creative Arts would have toured sites in the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Austria in June in connection with the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the World War II military operation that began the liberation of France.
“I just do not think it is wise, especially given the climate, especially now, especially as an American, to be making these trips overseas, especially sanctioned by the school system,” Board Member Rhonda Thurman, R-Hixson, said. “I just do not think that’s our place, and I just do not want that responsibility.”
The school board voted 7-3 to reject a motion to approve the field trip. School Board Members Ben Connor, D-Chattanooga, Marco Perez, independent of Signal Mountain, and Joe Wingate, R-Chattanooga, voted in favor of the trip. Board Member Jill Black, D-Lookout Mountain, was present but could not vote due to participating electronically.
Overnight field trips are required to be approved by the school board.