The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board says it is waiting for parents to decide whether planned field trips to the U.S. will continue.
The Board has sent a letter home to parents, asking to renew their child's interest in their specific trip.
“As a result of the current uncertainty related to travel in the United States, we are working to better understand the situation and how it may affect our students, particularly in relation to school trips,” the letter says. “Our goal is to be responsive to our families while being responsible for safe travel.”
Board Chair Shirley Seward says families may have a different opinion about travel across the border since U.S. President Donald Trump issued his executive order, barring citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries.
“When the parents originally consented to the trip, the announcement had not been made by President Trump,” Seward says. “Therefore, because the situation is now different, we want to give them the opportunity to think about this.”
The executive order is currently being hotly debated in the U.S. court system.
The Board says once "ongoing interest" in each trip is established, they'll look into how those trips will continue, on a case-by-case basis.
Seward says the OCDSB is not cancelling all trips, like a board in Windsor recently chose to do.
“I think what we’re doing what is absolutely fair,” Seward says. “We’re not saying ‘no, we’re cancelling all these educational trips.’ We’re not doing that. We’re looking at them one by one.”
Seward says that would involve reviewing the documentation of each student who agrees to go on the trip. She says students with Canadian passports, or who are permanent residents, should be fine at the border, based on the information the Board has received from its legal counsel. If any students are not eligible, the parents will be informed.
Seward also says chaperones will be on hand, if a trip goes forward, in case any trouble arises.
“If there are any delays at the border, and the student is either detained or turned back, then one member of the supervising team – the teachers and other supervising adults – will stay with that student,” Seward says.
Seward says the board has asked principals not to plan any new trip to the U.S. until after June.
“We think it’s much more sensible to focus on those trips that are already in place, rather than beginning the process for brand new ones.”
Read the letter to families below:
Dear Parents or Guardians:
Your child is registered to participate in our school trip to (insert location name). As a result of the current uncertainty related to travel in the United States, we are working to better understand the situation and how it may affect our students, particularly in relation to school trips. Our goal is to be responsive to our families while being responsible for safe travel. This situation is a developing one, but we want to share with you what advice we have received thus far from legal counsel.
As you know, an Executive Order was issued by the President of the United States on January 27, 2017. As we understand it, the effect of the Executive Order is that:
1. Canadian passport holders, born in one of the seven countries identified in the Executive order (Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia, Yemen and Iraq), will not be denied entry to the US based on their country of birth;
2. Canadian permanent resident card holders, travelling on passports from one of the seven countries, have been given verbal assurances that they will not be denied entry to the US based on their country of birth;
3. Canadian study permit holders with previously issued US travel visas will not be permitted entry, except on a case-by-case basis (a determination which would not be made until arriving at the border), and no new visas will be obtainable for at least 90 days.
Our Next Steps
We understand that some families may feel differently about travel to the United States since you first signed up your son or daughter for the trip. We are therefore seeking your input as to whether your child will be participating. Once we have established that there is ongoing interest, we will complete an assessment of the feasibility of the trip.
If you are indicating that you wish your child to participate, we are asking that, at the same time, you also provide us with copies of travel documents (passport) to ensure that:
● the expiry date of the passport is valid three months after the return of the trip to Canada;
● trip supervisors have copies of the necessary documents to address any questions well in advance of the trip so that we are well positioned to proceed with planned travel .
A key step in our planning is to confirm ongoing interest in participation. Our role will continue to support our students and keep you informed of any developments.
Please return the following to (insert lead supervisor’s name) with attached photocopy of required documents.
Student Name:
Parent’s/Guardian’s Name:
Contact Phone Number:
I am confirming my permission for _______________________________ to participate in the trip to (insert location) taking place (insert dates). You will find attached a photocopy of my child’s travel documents (passport).