Airdrie parent Crystal Boys is feeling “robbed” following a recent decision from Rocky View Schools (RVS) to Airdrie parent Crystal Boys is feeling “robbed” following a recent decision from Rocky View Schools (RVS) to cancel all trips to Europe following terror attacks in Paris in November. Effective Dec. 11, all eight scheduled European trips were cancelled until June 30, 2016.
“I think it was premature and hasty. I think they were just following the crowd on that decision,” Boys said. “They’re responsible for the safety of other people’s children, I get their decision, but as a parent if I’m OK with it, then you should be too.”
Boys’ daughter, Tamara, is currently in Grade 12 at George McDougall High School and worked throughout the summer to save money for the trip.
“She worked her butt off, full-time to have the trip paid in full by September. She saved every dime and had the trip paid off in full,” Boys said. “(When) the trip was cancelled, she was excited to go buy a vehicle to go to and from Calgary. Then she got word they will be charging $2,000 (in cancellation fees).”
Though RVS was able to secure refunds for many of the scheduled trips, the George McDougall trip – booked through travel company Mariden International – will either see students travel to an alternative location, or be hit with big cancellation fees.
Mario Skrpec, general manager of Mariden International, said RVS “rushed” the decision to cancel the trips.
“The school board has their own insurance provider. What the heck can I do after that? I cannot force them (to purchase insurance),” he said. “That’s the reason you pay insurance. I don’t know who their insurance provider is. Now they are on the hook.
“This is clearly printed in the contract. These guys wash their hands and they try to blame us. We have nothing to do with this.”
According to a press release issued Dec. 11, RVS made the decision to cancel the trips based on “advice given by RVS’ insurance carrier, Marsh, which is recommending against travelling to Europe.”
Parent meetings to determine alternate destinations were held the week of Dec. 14.
“At this point, we are continuing to work with our schools to find alternate travel destinations,” RVS Director of Communications Angela Spanier said in an email to the Airdrie City View.
Prior to providing deposits, parents signed RVS consent forms that read, “RVS and/or school reserves the right to cancel an excursion prior to and including the date of departure based upon the security, health and safety conditions in all countries throughout the world. RVS and/or schools will not be responsible for refunds due to such trip cancellation.”
Boys said although she understood the school board’s decision to cancel the trip, she felt she was getting “lip service” from decision-makers.
“This was taken out of our hands. When we asked, ‘Are you guys willing to do something financially to supplement these families?’ They outright said no,” she said. “You made these decisions without our knowledge, without our input. Why do we have to pay the bill for that?
“I watched my daughter work so hard for this. They’re taking the money out of her pocket. This is her first life lesson that she gets from the world.”
