Student Trip Saved at Board of Ed. Meeting

The Harrison Board of Education entered the library at Louis M. Klein Middle School about an hour later than expected Wednesday night, and stepped to the front of a room that was uncharacteristically full.

Fourteen students from the Harrison Model Congress Club and a handful of parents attended the meeting to ask Harrison Superintendent Louis Wool to reconsider canceling their weekend trip to Philadelphia.  The trip was cancelled because of the approaching snow storm.

But the students were not willing to let months of preparation go to waste, bringing up examples of other local schools who would be making the trip despite the bad weather.

"We cancelled your trip based on a lot of factors," said Wool.  "While I do appreciate what is going on in other districts, my responsibility is with this district."

Wool told the group that the issue would not be debated because of time concerns.  But he promised to do his best to workout a way to get the kids to go on the trip, if he could ensure their safety.  Although far from a promise, the statement opened the possibility that the trip would still occur.

"I'm hoping social networking works tonight," said Wool.  "Whatever you kids do to hope for a snow day, I would recommend you do the opposite."

After that news, the majority of those in attendance hesitantly trickled toward the exits with new-found hope that their much anticipated trip would still take place.

The board made an attempt to move on to preliminary budget discussions, but to no avail.  Commotion coming from another room was loud enough for School Board President Joan Tiburzi to ask for a five minute break.  

The break lasted about 10-minutes and provided Wool enough time to workout a plan for the club to board a bus at 11 p.m. that night.

Working with staff and students, Wool was able to change bus plans and hotel reservations in just enough time to change the trip.  The students were given only about an hour to prepare, but they were going to Philadelphia.

Update:

The bus carrying the Harrison Model Congress Club safely reached Philadelphia Thursday morning.  We will have updates on the trip on Friday.