Garden City Superintendent of Schools Dr. Robert Feirsen emphasized that the Garden City School District is not involved in trips a group of high school students have scheduled to Spain and Italy over the spring break.

"These are not school trips," said Dr. Feirsen. "They are not sponsored by the Garden City Public Schools. Involvement in them is totally voluntary. The school has no liability...There is no requirement that students attend these trips."

A private vendor is organizing the Garden City trip. Dr. Feirsen acknowledged that even though some chaperones will be school district employees, they will not be acting in that capacity during the trips. The school district has mailed letters to parents, and Dr. Feirsen said anyone with questions should contact his office (478-1010), High School Principal Hank Hardy (478-2000) or World Language Chairperson Marie Nuzzi (478-2080).

"Even though it takes place for Garden City kids and the people who are running it are Garden City employees, we really have no interest in it," he said.

The issue of non-school sanctioned trips has been in the news recently after a group of students from Half Hollow Hills High School misbehaved during a senior class ski getaway to Vermont in February. Four youngsters were arrested, two for underage drinking and drug possession and two for disorderly conduct. One student was taken to the hospital for drug poisoning. Two ounces of drugs were also seized by police.