TLSS liveblog: foreign travel

As the City Solicitor has made the quick trip up from City Hall for this meeting, the item on foreign travel is being take out of order. Publishing as we go...
David Moore notes that new regulations require CORI or CORI type checks on all drivers and others, plus extensive exploration around transportation. Training and planning around political issues, as in Egypt currently. "Formidable issues" is what he says.

Outside entities, which assume the risk and the liability, but are entirely outside of WPS
Monfredo:would schools have any responsibilities? Moore says (in brief), no: others take responsibilities. Monfredo lists local schools that have take foreign trips, "my concern is we're limiting the Worcester Public Schools in foreign travel..how could these schools have these trips?...isn't a liability a liability whether you go to Old Sturbridge Village or to London?"
Moore agrees, but says it is worth considering the risks involved.
Monfredo offers to share the policies that other districts have...."how can we have a policy that allows it"
suggests that perhaps we could look at it at the next meeting after a suggested policy
Mulqueen: background checks on those in foreign countries, not sure we could do that
how have we trained the adults on the trip to respond to political situations? Not sure, we could look at it.
Mulqueen: happy to "benchmark" how other districts have done this
How could a teacher, if she got an outside entity, do this?
Mulqueen: not a teacher bringing her class; a teacher, in her outside life, offering an opportunity to her students.
Monfredo: domestic travel? A problem? Mulqueen: easier for CORI, background checks, travel
"not as concerned about New York City, nationally"
Monfredo: my understanding is that if we sign up with a vendor, the vendor does the background checks and such
Mulqueen: will look into issues raised by the opinion and come back to the subcommittee

Biancheria: issue is more towards the teachers; one of their concerns were their professional time
asks that staff going also be part of research
"keep running into roadblocks here..."hoping to get around them

O'Connell: "not a bar...a factor that needs to be considered by us"
State Department become our guideline in terms of safety
distinction between teachers taking a trip with their family and teachers chaperoning a trip (for free)
When should we do this?
Mulqueen suggests March

"understand the risks involved in travel...benefits outweigh the risks" (this from a member of the public)
Held for the March meeting