WILMINGTON, MA — At its meeting last Wednesday, the Wilmington School Committee got a field trip request like no other it had ever received — a request to take 20-24 Wilmington High students to Cuba during February vacation in 2018.
“We are looking forward to an enjoyable, educational and life-changing trip to explore the culture, history and challenges of Cuba as the country reopens for American travelers,” writes field trip organizers and WHS teachers Maura Tucker, Lisa Desberg and Jennifer Fidler in their request.
The students and 4 chaperones would travel with Explorica, the student travel company which successfully ran the WHS World War II trip to Europe in April 2016.
The field trip would cost each participating student $3,523. Trip organizers hope to start enrolling students as soon as possible to spread the cost of the trip over the next 18 months.
The field trip was approved by Wilmington High School Principal Linda Peters and former Wilmington Superintendent Mary DeLai in September. Organizers now need the approval of the School Committee before moving forward.
Field trip organizers recently provided the School Committee with their request, accompanied by a 40-page packet of information on the trip.
A vote expected at last week’s School Committee Meeting, however, was tabled until October 26, after a couple of committee members had concerns and questions over the trip.
School Committee member Tom Talbot said he read that Explorica has had issues with refunding money for cancelled trips.
Talbot also noted that Explorica’s “code of conduct” could potentially allow some Wilmington students to consume alcohol because Cuba’s legal drinking age is 16.
Assistant Superintendent Sean Gallager believed that the Wilmington High School’s code of conduct would trump Explorica’s. Because the field trip would be a school-sponsored event, no drinking would be permitted according to Gallagher.
Talbot was also questioning if Explorica’s travel guides were subject to CORI checks. He also found the travel insurance offered to be somewhat insufficient.
“I just had people that I know come back from Cuba,” warned Talbot. “It was a bit of a culture shock because Cuba’s current conditions aren’t optimal and they have such different laws.”
“Mr. Talbot brings up some pretty valid concerns,” agreed School Committee member Manny Mulas. “My concern is – Cuba just opened up. Do we know of any schools in the area or in the state that has taken a trip to Cuba? Can we get some feedback? I wouldn’t feel comfortable voting until hearing about the experience from another school district who has visited Cuba.”
“I think you have valid concerns,” responded WHS Principal Linda Peters. “We will investigate a little further.”
After the agenda item was tabled, Peters, Desberg, Tucker and Fidler were invited back to the October 26th meeting to provide additional information and answer further questions.
Watch the entire discussion, courtesy of Wilmington Community Television, below at the 1-minute, 30-second mark:
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Wilmington Apple 
Only a fool would want to go to Cuba this soon.