P'burg's Capitol expense gets ax Annual D.C. trip banned by state. Schools chief hopes Trenton will reconsider its decision. Tuesday, February 13, 2007 • By DANIEL HAUSMANN • The Express-Times PHILLIPSBURG | The state Department of Education put the kibosh on a 20-year middle school tradition. The DOE rejected the school's request to take eighth-graders on a field trip to Washington, D.C.; a decision the district plans to appeal. "I can't see how the state of New Jersey can't see a trip to Washington, D.C., as educational," board member Chafik Zarbatany said. "Whoever made that decision, I don't know what they were thinking." Superintendent Gordon Pethick started the trip in the 1980s when he was middle school principal. Pethick used the trip as incentive for students with good grades, good attendance and good behavior. Pethick said he's had discussions with DOE Commissioner Gordon MacInnes on a reprieve. "It wasn't a definite 'no,'" Pethick said. "How could you not send a group of students to Washington, D.C.?" The subject was brought up by board President Paul Rummerfield, who said the district has received calls about the cancellation of the trip. "I'm very disappointed and I hope they reconsider," Rummerfield said. "We've promised the kids; it's an incentive trip." The DOE put new restrictions on field trips for the state's 31 poorest school districts. "The new rules are strict; it's very difficult," Pethick said. He said the cost was about $10,000; half coming from the district and half coming from parents. Reporter Daniel Hausmann can be reached at 610-258-7171 or by e-mail at dhausmann@express-times.com. © 2006 The Express-Times. Used by NJ.com with permission.