Hello everyone,
I think this comes as a surprise to no one that we are finally cancelling the trip to New York. If you don't feel like reading a lot and want the TLDR (too long, didn't read) version, scroll down to the asterisks for the important information.
First of all, I feel horrible about this. I know that everyone was really looking forward to it and that you had set aside a lot of money to make this happen, but the conditions both here and in New York now make this trip impossible. I held out as long as I could to see if things might have turned around, but I think everyone just wants a decision one way or the other. I've decided to start the process of trying to get as much money back as possible for both insured and un-insured participants.
We will not be trying to reschedule this trip during this school year or this summer, as we have no idea when we will get back or when the events that we previously booked will be available again. Seniors, I have a lump in my throat about this. I am so sorry. Everyone else, although it is dangerous to speculate, I have a feeling we will take a survey next school year to see what everyone's feelings are about travel and restart the planning process for a trip during the 2020-2021 school year. To predict any further than that would be irresponsible.
FOR EVERYONE: Educational Tours has assured us that they will do all they can to refund as much money as possible. As stated in the original trip packet, the maximum refund is "monies paid.....less any non-refundable payments made on the trip's behalf". When the money is refunded, it will be in a lump sum check to the school district, and will be distributed back to you in the form of a check from the district. This obviously is going to take some time, so please do not call or email us asking for the status of your money yet. Remember, the money has to get back to the tour company from the vendors, then back to the district from the tour company, then back to you from us in the form of 150 checks, written individually by our SINGULAR bookkeeper at the high school (A fantastic lady, whom I'm sure will be thrilled about writing all these checks and getting them to the right people).
If you purchased the supplemental insurance, DO NOT FILE A CLAIM INDIVIDUALLY YET. You will not get your money back any sooner, and you will most likely get less because filing the claim before then makes you ineligible for any refunds from the trip company. We will notify YOU when you can make an insurance claim and also provide you with policy numbers and contact information for Travel Insured International.
In the meantime, we ask you to please be patient, and not contact Educational Tours or the insurance company. ETI has asked that one representative for each group do the communicating. That person is me :) If you have any questions You can direct them to myself (smigellj@howellschools.com) or to Mrs. Allegoet (allegoel@howellschools.com). BEFORE ASKING US QUESTIONS, PLEASE READ THIS WHOLE LETTER as it contains all of the information we know right now. I promise you we will keep you updated.
OK, that's about it. This is a tough pill to swallow, but there has been a heavy dosage of tough pills lately. Hang in there highlanders. The sun will shine again. We will come together again. We will make music again.
-Smigell
******************************
WHAT YOU SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN OUT OF THIS LETTER:
-WE ARE CANCELLING THE TRIP
-WE WILL BE GETTING MONEY BACK. WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH, BUT IT WILL BE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
-IF YOU BOUGHT THE INSURANCE, DO NOT FILE A CLAIM YET ON YOUR OWN. WAIT UNTIL YOU GET INSTRUCTIONS FROM US.
-DO NOT CALL THE TRIP COMPANY, THEY ARE TRYING TO GET OUR MONEY BACK. LET THEM WORK ON THAT.
-WE DON'T KNOW WHEN THE MONEY IS COMING BACK. GIVEN THE CURRENT SITUATION, IT WILL PROBABLY TAKE LONGER THAN YOU WOULD LIKE. WE ARE WORKING ON THIS AS FAST AS POSSIBLE.
-WE ARE NOT RESCHEDULING THE TRIP FOR THIS SCHOOL YEAR OR THE SUMMER. WE WILL CONSIDER THINGS NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.
-YOU CAN EMAIL MYSELF OR MRS. ALLEGOET WITH QUESTIONS, BUT PLEASE READ ALL OF THIS BEFORE YOU DO.
-MY HEART IS JUST AS BROKEN AS YOURS IS :( I AM SO TRULY SORRY IT WORKED OUT THIS WAY. WE TRIED OUR HARDEST.
If you are reading this post, it probably means you are healthy. I am glad for that :)
I think this comes as a surprise to no one that we are finally cancelling the trip to New York. If you don't feel like reading a lot and want the TLDR (too long, didn't read) version, scroll down to the asterisks for the important information.
First of all, I feel horrible about this. I know that everyone was really looking forward to it and that you had set aside a lot of money to make this happen, but the conditions both here and in New York now make this trip impossible. I held out as long as I could to see if things might have turned around, but I think everyone just wants a decision one way or the other. I've decided to start the process of trying to get as much money back as possible for both insured and un-insured participants.
We will not be trying to reschedule this trip during this school year or this summer, as we have no idea when we will get back or when the events that we previously booked will be available again. Seniors, I have a lump in my throat about this. I am so sorry. Everyone else, although it is dangerous to speculate, I have a feeling we will take a survey next school year to see what everyone's feelings are about travel and restart the planning process for a trip during the 2020-2021 school year. To predict any further than that would be irresponsible.
FOR EVERYONE: Educational Tours has assured us that they will do all they can to refund as much money as possible. As stated in the original trip packet, the maximum refund is "monies paid.....less any non-refundable payments made on the trip's behalf". When the money is refunded, it will be in a lump sum check to the school district, and will be distributed back to you in the form of a check from the district. This obviously is going to take some time, so please do not call or email us asking for the status of your money yet. Remember, the money has to get back to the tour company from the vendors, then back to the district from the tour company, then back to you from us in the form of 150 checks, written individually by our SINGULAR bookkeeper at the high school (A fantastic lady, whom I'm sure will be thrilled about writing all these checks and getting them to the right people).
If you purchased the supplemental insurance, DO NOT FILE A CLAIM INDIVIDUALLY YET. You will not get your money back any sooner, and you will most likely get less because filing the claim before then makes you ineligible for any refunds from the trip company. We will notify YOU when you can make an insurance claim and also provide you with policy numbers and contact information for Travel Insured International.
In the meantime, we ask you to please be patient, and not contact Educational Tours or the insurance company. ETI has asked that one representative for each group do the communicating. That person is me :) If you have any questions You can direct them to myself (smigellj@howellschools.com) or to Mrs. Allegoet (allegoel@howellschools.com). BEFORE ASKING US QUESTIONS, PLEASE READ THIS WHOLE LETTER as it contains all of the information we know right now. I promise you we will keep you updated.
OK, that's about it. This is a tough pill to swallow, but there has been a heavy dosage of tough pills lately. Hang in there highlanders. The sun will shine again. We will come together again. We will make music again.
-Smigell
******************************
WHAT YOU SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN OUT OF THIS LETTER:
-WE ARE CANCELLING THE TRIP
-WE WILL BE GETTING MONEY BACK. WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH, BUT IT WILL BE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
-IF YOU BOUGHT THE INSURANCE, DO NOT FILE A CLAIM YET ON YOUR OWN. WAIT UNTIL YOU GET INSTRUCTIONS FROM US.
-DO NOT CALL THE TRIP COMPANY, THEY ARE TRYING TO GET OUR MONEY BACK. LET THEM WORK ON THAT.
-WE DON'T KNOW WHEN THE MONEY IS COMING BACK. GIVEN THE CURRENT SITUATION, IT WILL PROBABLY TAKE LONGER THAN YOU WOULD LIKE. WE ARE WORKING ON THIS AS FAST AS POSSIBLE.
-WE ARE NOT RESCHEDULING THE TRIP FOR THIS SCHOOL YEAR OR THE SUMMER. WE WILL CONSIDER THINGS NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.
-YOU CAN EMAIL MYSELF OR MRS. ALLEGOET WITH QUESTIONS, BUT PLEASE READ ALL OF THIS BEFORE YOU DO.
-MY HEART IS JUST AS BROKEN AS YOURS IS :( I AM SO TRULY SORRY IT WORKED OUT THIS WAY. WE TRIED OUR HARDEST.
If you are reading this post, it probably means you are healthy. I am glad for that :)
