At our May 21 meeting, the School Committee discussed the topic of field trips—a conversation I requested so we could speak with the administration about the protocols in place to keep students and staff safe while traveling.

The Committee approves roughly a dozen field trips each year—ranging from academic enrichment to athletics, music, and more.

Until last year, each field trip request had its own spot on the agenda. This gave faculty, chaperones—and occasionally students—the chance to summarize the trip, provide context, and answer questions. While some discussions ran long and added time to our meetings, I appreciated the chance to dig into issues that matter to the public—like student cost, alignment with coursework, and above all, safety.

About a year ago, field trip requests were moved into the “consent agenda”—a time-saving tool that lets committees consolidate routine items into a single vote. For example, rather than vote separately on meeting minutes, basic warrant payments, and cost-center transfers, a Committee can group these items and approve them all at once, without discussion.

While I appreciate the efficiency of a consent agenda, I don’t believe field trips belong there. Student safety alone warrants open discussion and thoughtful review.

At the meeting, I expressed hope that we return to our prior practice of reviewing field trips individually. Until then, I plan to continue pulling these items from the consent agenda so they can receive the discussion they deserve.

If this is a topic that matters to you—whether as a parent, educator, or community member—I encourage you to speak up. Our policies should reflect the voices and values of the people they affect most. I’ll keep doing my part to make sure field trips receive sufficient scrutiny and care.

---

Note: The views and opinions expressed here are my own and do not reflect the official policies, positions, or endorsements of the Duxbury School Committee. For official information about Duxbury Public Schools and the Duxbury School Committee, please visit duxbury.k12.ma.us.