South, FFA reach compromise on trip travel

South is reinforcing its policy of not allowing students to travel to events in a teacher’s personal vehicle.

By: Linda Seida
   WEST AMWELL — Four students from South Hunterdon Regional High School are competing through Saturday in the 79th National FFA Convention in Indianapolis after a scramble to ensure their travel funding was adequate.
   An FFA alumni group said the last-minute scramble for the state champion-winning student group was due to a change of district policy that would not allow them to drive to their destination, but, instead, required them to book an airline flight.
   The group last week appealed to the Board of Education to reverse its policy and help fund the extra expense.
   But according to Superintendent Lisa Brady, the policy against driving students in a teacher’s personal vehicle has always been in place.
   She said the problem cropped up this year because, despite policy, students had traveled previously to the event in a teacher’s private vehicle. That was the plan again this year until the board said they couldn’t.
   Ms. Brady said, "When I became aware this year that students and the FFA teacher had plans to drive in a personal vehicle to the FFA convention, I would not allow it. Hence, they were scrambling for funding to fly to the convention. The (board) has never paid for travel of this distance or cost for any club or activity to my knowledge. There was no policy change in this situation, but a non-compliance with the policy was the issue."
   Principal Don Woodring said it’s a matter of liability as well as missing extra days of school.
   But having to fly four students and two adult advisors to their destination is "increasing the cost of everything," FFA alumni Brian Hayes said.
   He explained, "Usually, we like to have enough so the kids don’t have to pay for their food or transportation."
   Ms. Brady did not fault the student organization for previous non-compliance with policy.
   Instead, she said, "Please understand that I think this is an issue of ‘doing things the way we have always done them’ as opposed to any deliberate breach of policy. I am sure that in the future this is now clear to all clubs at South."
   The board agreed to contribute a mileage allowance, which the students could apply to their airfare. The district also paid for the students’ convention registration.
   For a trip that costs more than $2,500, they were left to come up with about several hundred dollars on their own, which the FFA alumni intended to contribute, according to Mr. Hayes.
   Mr. Hayes said he was pleased by the compromise.
   Agricultural teacher and FFA advisor Dave Ritter said, "The school administration is very supportive of the program at South Hunterdon. Through their support and support from the New Jersey FFA Foundation, South Hunterdon FFA Alumni and fundraising by the FFA chapter, the cost of the trip will be covered, which is approximately $2,700."