Southport Central School’s two sixth graders are heading to the “Cradle of American Liberty” later this month. Haiden Blackman and Carter Townsend received Southport School Committee approval May 15 for their class trip to Boston. Blackman and Townsend told the committee members their research showed Boston had several interesting options. The two want to visit the Museum of Science and take a duck boat tour of American Revolution sites. 

“We want to see the live animal care center and mazes and brain game exhibits,” Townsend said about their desire to visit the Museum of Science. Committee member Nick Ullo asked if the two had ever been on a duck boat tour. They responded “no.” Committee Chairman Adam Harkins asked what are their trip meal plans? Blackman said they would eat in a restaurant, pack a lunch, or eat on the train.

The students chose Boston after researching their trip options. “We went on the website looking for info, scrolling down and saw live the animal center, and thought, ‘Oh, that looks cool,” Townsend said about what made Museum of Science an attractive option.

The Boston trip we be a one-day tour. Blackman reported the two would travel by train to Boston with no overnight stay. They estimated the trip cost at $600.  

In other action, the committee discussed buying a new bus next year. Harkins reported the current bus is “in the shop more than it’s on the road.” He has consulted with Alternative Organizational Structure (AOS) 98 Director of Safety and Transportation Kyle Canada and a Southport selectman about the school’s transportation needs. He told his fellow committee members a three-quarter or half-size bus would be best. “We have the money to purchase it outright next year,” Harkins said. 

Ullo asked if the committee would consider an electric or hybrid bus. Harkins responded his research showed that now is not the right time. Harkins based his recommendation on the uncertain performance and high cost of those models. “We’re not looking at those models now. We’d like to see how they perform in the next few years before considering them,” he said.

He would prefer a gasoline engine bus over a diesel model. “There is a cost savings and gasoline is cleaner than diesel. There are also more local options to service a gasoline engine bus so that’s also a big plus,” he said. 

Committee members had their annual officer election. Harkins retained the chairmanship and Kathy Tibbetts returns as vice -chairman. The committee meets next at 4 p.m. Monday, June 12 at SCS.