Mansfield School Committee Considering Return of Exchange Programs

After putting the Mansfield High School foreign exchange programs on hold due to reports of student misbehavior during a 2012 exchange in Spain, the Mansfield School Committee is discussing the possibility of allowing a French exchange during the 2013-14 school year.

With a request to restart the French exchange from MHS foreign language chair Leslie Gildersleeve , the committee hopes to allow students to live abroad for a short period during the school year, but not with the rules and standards used in previous years. 

“When I was a (Mansfield High School) principal I said if I would let my children go I would let others go. I would not feel comfortable sending my children on this,” Superintendent Brenda Hodges said.

While parents did not follow though with threats of litigation in reaction to punishments handed out on for the exchange trip in Spain, Hodges fears a similar incident could provoke legal action against the school district.

Committee member Michael Trowbridge, who’s daughter participated in an exchange as a Mansfield student, supported bringing back the program but not without strict and clear guidelines.

“I know there were a lot of concerns that came back. We need to have a very through contract with what the expectations are. Something that is legally binding, seen by our attorney, and clear of what the expectations are,” Trowbridge said.

While Hodges agreed with Trowbridge, she worried that a document may not be enough to protect the school if they were taken to court over an incident.

Newly elected committee member Lynn Cavicchi, who has experience putting together similar programs on the college level, said she did not feel comfortable sponsoring a trip with the current guidelines.

The desire to restart the trips was good news to Gildersleeve, but the committee’s decision to change the program's guidelines puts the French exchange at risk of a delay or in need of a new partner town.

If allowed to happen, Mansfield students would go to Chateau Lin, France, a town students have gone to in the past and has already approved an exchange with Mansfield.

“They (Chateau Lin) came up with that document that says they will not smoke, they will not be offered alcohol. I don’t think we’ll find a better place with better schools,” Gilder Sleeve said. “We have a real relationship with these people. If we wait another year, we’re going to lose them.”

The only alternative that currently exists at the high school is the World Travel Club. Unlike a foreign exchange where the students stay with a host family, the travel club trips are supervised by advisers that spend most of their time with the students.

The committee will discuss the issue again at their June 4 meeting.