The principal of Garfield High School has canceled all overnight field trips for the school year.
The decision comes as Seattle Public Schools faces intense criticism over handling of a reported rape of a student on a Garfield school trip in 2012.
The memo from Principal Ted Howard states: "I cannot approve any overnight field trips until I am assured systems are in place to provide educational, empowering and safe experiences for all participants."
PTSA co-chair Marie Doyle said she's disappointed.
"Field trips are an integral part of the academic experience at Garfield," Doyle said.
No one from the district would do an interview with KIRO 7, nor explain the full impact of the decision.
Doyle says it affects the school's renowned jazz band.
The website for an outdoor education program shows a trip to Lopez Island this weekend is canceled.
"We expect the field trips will get up, and running ASAP and we expect very clear guidelines from the district in this, too," Doyle said.
The principal's memo indicated he is awaiting direction from a district task force and hopes to begin accepting field trip applications again in January.
The mother of the victim in the 2012 case told KIRO 7 she is filing a new complaint about how the district handled the case.
She also said instead of canceling field trips, the district should follow the rules to protect students.
KIRO
