By KEELEY MOREE
• Leader & Times

As warmer weather rolls around, requests for student and staff travel have been making their way onto the USD No. 480 school board agendas. Tonight, the board will decide on the proposed Liberal High School band cruise to Cozumel, Mexico.
The cruise may take place upon the Carnival Triumph ship which was recently adrift for five days after an engine room fire.
The trip is scheduled for May 29 through June 4 and the itinerary involves a departure from Galveston, Texas, with band performances scheduled to take place on the cruise ship. Currently there are 42 students and 14 adults signed up for the trip, which is funded through Blue and Gold food sales, poinsettia sales and the annual fish fry.
In his proposal, LHS band director Lance Burnett explained that after the Triumph ship’s situation there were serious thoughts of cancelling the trip.
“Upon contacting both the travel agency and the cruise line, I was satisfied that the ship would be repaired and put in ‘pristine’ condition to the tune of $60,000,000. New carpets, new walls and engine refit are all in the works,” Burnett explained. “The Carnival Triumph will be out of commission for two months while repairs are being made. The ship is slated to return to service in mid-April. There should be at least six cruises prior to the LHS group’s projected boarding.”
With this information, Burnett said 15 people opted to cancel their involvement in the trip at a cost of $75 dollars per person. After Thursday, the cancellation penalty through Carnival becomes $200 dollars per person.
Also on the agenda tonight is an annual contract renewal for AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) at a cost of $50,785 dollars to be funded by an anonymous donation. The board will also vote to approve a grant application to fund the Pre-Kindergarten program hosted by the district at Washington Elementary school.
Tonight’s meeting begins at 6:30 inside the Education Service Center located at 624. N. Grant.