Mansfield ISD has decided to temporarily suspend and limit field trips that involve ocean-related or beach-related activities. The decision was made following the loss of Mansfield Lake Ridge student Carlos Perez who drowned in the Gulf of Mexico near Corpus Christi on a SkillsUSA competition field trip. The suspension was put in place to ensure the safety and security of the students and sponsors. The district hopes the new policy will alleviate the anxiety parents and sponsors  may be feeling as they prepare for students to participate in these activities.

“The safety and security of our students is our most important priority,” Mansfield ISD Superintendent Dr. Jim Vaszauskas said in a statement addressing the community’s concern. “[The policy] is also incumbent on the district to ensure that future field trips involving water activities are as safe as possible for our students.”

Field trips that involve hotel pools or water resorts will be carefully scrutinized in the future. If the hotel pool or water resort is well staffed with certified lifeguards capable of managing large groups, the activity is appropriate under the new policy. If the hotel pool or water resort is not staffed with lifeguards or inexperienced lifeguards, the activity is not permitted. Students will no longer be able to ride any theme park rides involving water. In addition to limiting field trips and activities involving water, the district will consult with district stakeholders and outside experts to review the current field trip policies and procedures involving water-related activities.

Junior Hannah Garcia has experienced firsthand the difficulty and frustration adjusting to the new policy on the journalism field trip to Los Angeles, California on April 15-17 for the National Scholastic Press Association Convention. The group went to Universal Studios, but the new policy did not permit them to ride certain rides that students, such as Garcia, wanted because they involved water.

“It was a bummer because I’m probably not going to be able to go back there for a while, and I would’ve really liked to have the full experience in a place like that,” Garcia said. “I understand we needed to make changes to the old field trip policy, but I do think the water policy is just a bit too strict. There are several ways students can get hurt outside of water-based areas so taking away the privilege to go on fun water rides is unnecessary.”

The new policy interferes with some previously scheduled field trips, such as MHS band’s trip to Corpus Christi. In some cases, however, the field trip may be approved as originally planned once verifying with hotels and resorts that appropriate safety measures are in place for the group. Unfortunately for the band, the new policy has caused them to cancel their trip completely because it was beach related and worry that tragedy might occur again.

“I think the new policy is not unreasonable, but I find it kind of ridiculous,” freshman band student Brooke Blaine said. “My older siblings got to go to Corpus Christi, but because of the new policy, I can no longer experience the trip like them.”

The district recognizes the new policy restricts some activities parents and students were looking forward to and may no longer want to attend them because of the restrictions. However, many students and parents have paid in advance for the trips and the activities may be nonrefundable. In an effort to be accommodating to the new policy, the school board approved to repay all the refundable field trips that were canceled using the district’s budget. The district will also refund money for parents who request it.

The district welcomes any input from parents and students concerning these issues and will be providing information as the process continues.

“You have our commitment to continue this process in an open and transparent manner and to keep our school community fully informed as we move forward,” Dr. Vaszauskas said. “These are very difficult times for our school community, and we deeply appreciate the expression of sympathy and support from throughout our community.”