GUSD board votes to reinstate FFA trip to Washington D.C.
Gilroy – A routine field trip request by the Gilroy High School Future Farmer’s of America sharply divided school board members when interpretation of a newly approved board policy would have prevented the group from visiting Washington D.C.
GUSD staff originally approved agriculture teacher Heather Nolan’s request to attend the FFA National Convention, but denied the extension to Washington D.C., citing that it was not an integral part of the class curriculum and would require students to unnecessarily miss classes. In a 4-to-2 vote Thursday night, board members reinstated the second leg of a two-part field trip to the National FFA Convention in Louisville, Ky. and Washington D.C.
But before the group won the right to go, upset parents, students and teachers filled the board room, pleading for GUSD board members to re-examine district officials’ decision.
“In the past seven years, no district (in California) has denied it,” said Gilroy High School agriculture teacher Heather Nolan. “Most of these kids will never experience this. I can’t tell you how important this is.”
Six students were signed up to participate in the field trip next fall, which would have caused them to miss five days of school.
Statewide, about 300 students attend the field trip.
Board policy was updated June 2 limiting field trips to those aligned with the course curriculum, and is designed to protect instructional classroom time.
“Programs and field trips which result in excessive loss of class time in other areas are to be discouraged,” the policy reads. “Field trips, to qualify for approval, must be related to class instruction or contribute to the district’s educational goals.”
In the past, students have attended the trip without having to come before the board. However, under the new policy, GUSD officials viewed the Washington D.C. portion as inconsistent with board policy.
A stream of parent and student speakers requested that board members reverse the decision.
One parent questioned the board’s values: “Is a trip to Washington in your goals?” she asked, her voice wavering. “They have worked far too long. They expected to go. To pull a trip this close to the date they leave is devastating.”
An exasperated Nolan explained that the Washington trip is part of the course curriculum. According to her, agriculture teachers are expected to incorporate both math and writing into their curriculum, so why not history?
“I don’t understand what you guys want me to do as an instructor,” she said.
Some board members expressed concern over the number of days students would miss. Because of GHS’ block scheduling, one two-hour class is equivalent to two days of class time.
“I realize that they are going to miss five days of school,” Nolan said. “(But) if the kids aren’t (academically) eligible – they don’t go.”
Superintendent Edwin Diaz recommended board members oppose the second portion of the trip.
“We thought we had a win-win. We would allow the FFA part, and still maintain the integrity of the board decision,” he said. “Think about the implication of the extension.”
For board members Rhoda Bress and Tom Bundros, the decision was clear: The national FFA convention fit into the course curriculum, the Washington trip did not.
Both supported the Louisville leg of the trip, however, neither believed the second portion was aligned with board policy and contributed to a loss of instructional time in other classes.
Neither debated the educational merit of going to Washington D.C.
Bundros even offered to take the six students to Washington over a vacation period.
“The issue is not go now or never (to Washington),” Bundros said. “My problem is the impact to instructional time … I think as a board member, I have to believe there is value in the classroom … I think it’s important that as a board that we send out a strong signal that classroom time is to be respected.”
Bob Kuntz, a retired GUSD agriculture teacher has chaperoned the FFA trip at least six times in his 35 years of instructing.
According to Kuntz the trip usually included an excursion to Mount Vernon, the Smithsonian, Arlington National Cemetery, the Supreme Court and the Holocaust Museum.
“It’s things they couldn’t see at Gilroy High,” he explained. “They’re busy from 5:30 in the morning to 10:30 at night.”
Many students, he said, receive extra credit or complete assignments by writing about the Washington D.C. portion.
“Those kids are very sober and their view of patriotism is enhanced after viewing the changing of the guard at the tomb of the unknown soldier,” Kuntz said. “When people are looking at the original Bill of Rights you can hear a pin drop – in a classroom you’re distracted.”
Kuntz believes the what the students learn in Washington overrides the time lost in the classroom.
“If they were just going to spend six days at Six Flags in Maryland I can see (the policy being enforced).”
Board member Dave McRae fiercely defended the Washington D.C. portion, arguing that it was the opportunity of a lifetime.
“In my life I haven’t gotten that experience,” he said.
After the meeting, McRae explained his rational.
“I think that the policy went a little too far and sort of created an absurd situation,” he said. “I think that being the only school board that would deny this field trip in the state makes a bad statement.”
McRae intends to push for a modification of the policy.
“It seemed that the policy was so strict that there’s not room for judgment,” he said. “Classroom time is really important … but I think you’re going to learn more by going on the trip.”
Board member Jaime Rosso, who voted to extend the Washington portion, was pleased with the board’s ruling.
“I think that we took the right action,” he said. “We could be hard and fast on all lines – and I don’t subscribe to that. It was part of the California FFA, it wasn’t something they just pulled out of their hat. We want to make sure that we the field trips are meaningful and relates (to the curriculum) – I think it did.”
