Senior class trip may need to be scaled back

About 30 seniors of the Lake Roosevelt graduating class of 2021 are interested in a senior trip, a tradition for seniors, to Huntington Beach, Calif., but COVID-19 restrictions might keep them in Washington.

The class has raised about $20,000 towards such a trip during their years in high school. 

According to a report submitted to the Grand Coulee Dam School District Board of Directors during their Feb. 22 meeting, the students would fly down to Los Angeles on May 29, busing to Huntington Beach, and spending the next couple days on beaches, at an art center, surfing, renting bikes, and more, then returning to Washington May 31. 

However, travel guidelines during Covid vary, and are confusing.

School board Chairman George LaPlace said that travel restrictions in California strongly discourage travel for leisure, and suggest 10 days of quarantine upon arrival, whereas Washington wants people returning to the state to quarantine for 14 days. 

LaPlace also said that things could change between now and May regarding Covid and its restrictions.

The board spent time during the meeting looking for the most up-to-date information on travel restrictions for both states, but ultimately decided to revisit the topic on Thursday when they asked Tera Whitelaw, who is helping seniors plan the trip, to return for a special board meeting at 5:30 p.m.

At that time, the board hopes to know more about the travel restrictions, and what refunds would be possible for money that would be spent on the trip ahead of time if the trip had to be canceled.

The board also suggested looking into a trip that could take place within the state of Washington.