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MPS cancels international travel for the year

Posted at 10:39 PM, Dec 07, 2015
and last updated 2015-12-07 23:39:37-05

A travel alert because of worldwide terror attacks means no more international trips for Milwaukee Public School students.

School leaders are cancelling all international travel for the rest of the school year.

MPS says its decision is based on a travel alert issued by the State Department. That means about a half dozen student trips planned for the rest of the school year are off.

We feel like we had to make it based on student safety," said MPS spokesperson Tony Tagliavia.

Tagliavia believes MPS was left with no choice after terrorists attacks in Paris and other places around the world.

"We made the decision to cancel future international trips for the rest of the school year because student safety is our most important concern," said Tagliavia.

Attacks here at home, like the mass murders in San Bernardino are also alarming. MPS will review field trips to DC or other big cities on case by case basis.

But school trips to France and Denmark next year needed to be canceled.

"Our decision was made based up that State Department Travel Alert," said Tagliavia.

That travel alert was issued ten days after the Paris attacks. It reads: The State Department alerts U.S. citizens to possible risks of travel due to increased terrorist threats.

Authorities believe the likelihood of terror attacks will continue." It urges American citizens to," be aware of immediate surroundings and avoid large crowds or crowded places.

All likely places were students would visit.  

"Its an opportunity to see the world, experience different cultures," said Tagliavia. "We understand the frustration of parents and students and we are disappointed that we had to make this decision."