Trip Update from Michael Griffith

The following is an update on the Turkey trip from SHHS Principal Michael Griffith.
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Dear Shaker Band Tour Participants and Parents:


Recent events in Turkey have raised questions about safety and security on the band trip. As principal, (and as a trip chaperone and parent of a band member who will be on the tour), I share those concerns. Nothing is more important to me than the safety of our students, staff, and other tour participants.

I want to bring you up to date on the status of the trip, the information we have gathered, and the measures we are taking.

At Superintendent Freeman’s direction, the staff is continuing to monitor and research the advisability of going forward with the trip. Based on what we have learned to date through considerable research, we believe the trip should proceed. We are consulting frequently with the tour operators in the U.S. and in Turkey, with the U.S. State Department, and with the headmaster of Robert College, the school we will be visiting in Turkey. (He is a U.S. citizen.) We have spoken with staff members at a private school in New York that has decided, after doing its own research, to proceed with sending students and faculty members on a similar itinerary later this month. We are also reaching out to U.S. universities that have students currently in the Istanbul area.

The band trip and shadow trip are concentrated along the Bosporus and the Aegean Sea, more than 200 miles from Ankara and more than 500 miles from the Syrian border. At this point, all indications from multiple sources are that tourism is proceeding normally in the areas we will visit. The State Department has not found it necessary to change its recommendations with respect to travel in Turkey. On February 1, the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey issued a statement about the attack on the embassy that read, in part: “All of us feel we are among friends in a country that is safe for Americans, and stable.” There has been no announced change in that position.

Local governments have issued permits for the performances and will have a police presence. If there are safety concerns, the authorities will cancel the performance or change the venue.

If the situation in Turkey changes for the worse, or we receive new information leading us to conclude that the trip should be canceled for safety reasons, families will be notified immediately so that they can make alternate plans for spring break.

We understand that there will be disappointment if the trip must be canceled. That is always a risk with travel. As with all international trips, the School District and tour operator were very clear up front that there could be a cancellation and that families could incur some financial loss. Arranging an alternate trip with this many people is not feasible.

The District believes firmly in the value of international travel, particularly travel that exposes students to cultures that are very different from our own. There is always some risk, whether we are traveling overseas or across town. But I assure you that the safety of our students, staff, and other travelers is our first priority. This is why we are undertaking a thorough, ongoing assessment of the situation.

I recognize that some of you may still have misgivings. Each family must make its own decision. At the District’s request, the tour operator has offered to modify its refund policy. If you wish to withdraw from the trip and receive a partial refund, you have until February 14 to notify the school and tour company. Rather than forfeit the entire amount, you will get all but $1,000 of your money back if you withdraw by the 14th. (The $1,000 will cover expenses that have already been incurred by the tour operator, including air and land portions of the program.) After the 14th, the tour operator will have to complete the purchase of airline tickets and make final payments for all services, so a refund will not be possible for anyone withdrawing after that date. If you withdraw, you will not be able to rejoin the tour, because your airline seats and hotel reservations will be released.

If your decision is to withdraw, please send an e-mail to Lisa Gibson (gibson_l@shaker.org), Tom Deep (deep_t@shaker.org), and Jeff Goldsmith (jgoldsmith@grandtoursinc.com). This will ensure that the proper arrangements can be made expeditiously.

I continue to believe that this trip will be a wonderful experience. We have capable and experienced staff members and chaperones on the trip to supervise students. The band staff and Dr. Stokes’s office will keep you apprised of trip preparations, meetings, packing reminders, etc. Safety and security issues are being handled by the administration, so please contact me directly with any related questions or concerns.

Thank you for your cooperation and patience as we all work toward a safe, educational, and enjoyable tour. I look forward to traveling with you.

Sincerely,

Michael D. Griffith
Principal
216-295-4201
griffith_m@shaker.org