School-sponsored overseas trips are the latest victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

        While President Bush and other national leaders urge Americans to resume normal activities — including air travel — many Tristate educators are opting instead to delay or cancel domestic and overseas field trips, citing travel risks.

Dave Burchfield, director of Fairfield High School's band, applauds his students at practice Wednesday. (Gary Landers photo) | ZOOM |

        “Rather than waiting to see what would happen, we decided we wouldn't be going overseas,” said Krista Ramsey, spokeswoman for Sycamore Community Schools, where administrators canceled five high school trips for next spring — to Greece, England, Spain, Italy and the Bahamas — following the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington.

        “We've canceled all overseas trips this school year and next summer,” Ms. Ramsey said. “Right now, the risks outweigh the benefits.”

        At Beechwood High School in Fort Mitchell, a spring break trip to Spain and Morocco for Spanish students and a summer trip to France for French students are being reconsidered, said Fred Bassett, superintendent of Beechwood Schools.

        “We don't know what the world climate is going to be in March and we'll do everything we can to protect our students,” Mr. Bassett said.

        Trips for Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy students — scheduled between October and January to Mexico, Japan, the Caribbean, Greece, Europe and South America — have all been canceled, largely because of travel uncertainty and fast-approaching cancellation deadlines, said headmaster Bill Balzano.

        In St. Leon, Ind., Jim Thomas said he was relieved when his daughter's spring break trip to France was canceled, although he and his wife had already decided they would allow her to go.

        “We would have had some very serious conversations about her safety,” said Mr. Thomas, an assistant superintendent in the Three Rivers Schools, whose daughter, Julia, is a senior at East Central High School.

        Even trips within the United States are being scrutinized, with some trips canceled and the itinerary of others changed.

        Delhi Middle School teacher Mick Munn is leading a non-school-sponsored eighth-grade trip to Washington later this month, but several parents have decided not to send their children. Prior to Sept. 11, 53 students were signed up; today only 33 are scheduled to go.

        “In talking with parents we had enough students who still wanted to go,” Mr. Munn said. “But if there's another terrorist attack, we're not going.”

        In Warren County, a fifth-grade field trip to Washington this month was canceled after educators received several phone calls from concerned parents, said Superintendent Ralph Shell.

        In Fairfield, the high school marching band's trip to Hollywood, Calif., over Thanksgiving to participate in a nationally televised Christmas parade is still on.

        But that decision was made only after parents were polled, said Dave Burchfield, band director.

        Mr. Burchfield said instruments will be brought to the airport and checked in a day earlier than usual.

        Enquirer reporter Lori Hayes contributed.
       

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