Mexico Trip Worries Lyons Township High Officials

LA GRANGE, IL – Lyons Township High School board members this week expressed concern over a planned student trip to Mexico next year, noting a U.S. travel advisory.

The students are set to visit Cuernavaca, which is in the Mexican state of Morelos, just south of Mexico City.

A few years ago, the U.S. State Department raised Morelos to a Level 3, advising Americans to reconsider travel. A Level 3 is given to areas with high crime, terrorism and kidnapping.

At 1 million people, the Cuernavaca metro area makes up more than half of Morelos' population.

Since the mid-1980s, students have visited the same school in Cuernavaca, where they take part in a language immersion program. The trips are every two years.

For an out-of-state trip to be school-sponsored, it must receive the school board's approval.

For the Mexico trip, students are with host families, travel in pairs and don't go out at night, officials said. Such trips average between 25 and 36 students, they said.

At Monday's school board meeting, member Gioia Giannotti Frye said she understood the trip's benefits. But she was concerned about students' safety. She suggested the school consider other Latin American destinations next time around.

Superintendent Brian Waterman said the school examined the Level 3 designation for the last trip and consulted its law firm.

"That certainly doesn't mean there can't be concerns about taking a trip there," he said.

Board member Kari Dillon said she would like to see how the school communicates the issue with families. She, too, wanted the school to look at other places next time.

Ultimately, Frye said, it's the parents' decision.

"It's such a great opportunity," she said.

Members agreed to delay a vote on the trip until next month. Waterman promised to provide the board with more information about the trip in the next week or so.