Hailey Christopher, a senior at Gowanda Central School, addressed the Board of Education in hopes of receiving support for a senior class trip.

Hailey Christopher, a senior at Gowanda Central School, addressed the Board of Education in hopes of receiving support for a senior class trip.

With what students believed was a deadline to submit plans for an overnight trip before the end of September sparked a response from the senior class. A recent Board of Education meeting featured close to 20 guests in attendance.

“Obviously there’s a lot of concern revolving the senior trip as we have a full room here, and rightfully so. It’s great to see everybody willing to step up and take a stand,” said Board of Education President Max Graham.

Board of Education Vice President Dollene Christopher took the same stance. “I’m really proud of the civic engagement here today,” she said.

First to address the board on the topic was Gowanda senior Hailey Christopher, who began by thanking the board and the administration for the opportunity to speak. She then said, “I am here on behalf of my classmates hoping to save our opportunity to have a traditional overnight senior class trip.”

The Board of Education facilitated the discussion by first adding the topic to the agenda for discussion, then later allowed for additional students to speak on the matter after the public comment portion of the meeting had passed.

Hailey Christopher described the senior class as a “unique class” with just 54 students, the fewest of any grade level within the district.

The Gowanda senior class fund has approximately $9,300 raised by the students, not including independent fundraising efforts, which were estimated around $9,000. The senior class previously raised funds for a trip to Washington D.C. in eighth grade, but plans were cancelled due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The money raised for that trip was set aside for a senior class trip.

“Imagine our shock when we were recently told that we would not have the chance to have a senior trip, at all,” Hailey Christopher said.

A year ago, there were “several issues” with the district’s senior trip, according to Hailey Christopher. “It is only human to want to avoid criticism and conflict, especially when it becomes personal,” she said. “We all understand that. However, we are here to say that we are a different class. We want to have the same experience that every class over the past 20-plus years has had. We want to bond and create memories before we leave this place forever.”

The outcry from the senior class and their parents/guardians was sparked by what they were led to believe was a Sept. 30 deadline to submit the proposal for a trip. Dollene Christopher stated that multiple parents, including herself, asked for clarification. She said they were told the class advisers made the decision to not pursue an overnight trip.

The district later assured the group that the deadline was not a hard deadline, but rather a timeframe to make sure enough time will be given to make the necessary arrangements.

Graham suggested polling senior students to gauge interest for an overnight senior trip. Graham also suggested discussing potential dates, locations, activities, and the cost attached regarding the trip in the coming days.

“Reach out to your advisers and say, ‘What can we do to help? How can we be part of the solution?’ ” Graham said.

Hailey Christopher was prepared with dates to schedule a trip that would not interfere with exams or extracurricular activities. “It seems that we have not been able to convince school officials to protect this opportunity for us, and that is why we are here tonight,” she said. “We are here to ask the Board of Education to please consider helping us make this trip a reality. Please convince administration to support this request. We are a group of well-rounded, responsible kids who have earned this.”

One student later alleged that the senior class adviser instructed the class president not to attend the Board of Education meeting. Board member Mark Nephew asked for those allegations to be investigated. Superintendent Dr. Robert Anderson said he would ask if the allegation was founded.

After giving hypothetical examples of potential trips and the cost that could be attached to them, Anderson assured the students, “If you want to go someplace, I’m all good with it. We’ll take you if you’ve got the money.”

The complete discussion can be found in the Board of Education meeting video posted on the district’s Facebook page.