By Joseph Bugbee, staff writer

Out-of-state trips for all Cal High clubs and sports teams may be cancelled for the next three years beginning in the  fall of 2011, administrators said.

The main reason these trips could be put on hold for several years is because of funding issues, said Principal Mark Corti. 

“Only 52 percent of the football team families have provided the participation donation and we can’t fund the programs without money,”  Corti said.

At the beginning of the season, players are expected to provide a participation donation that helps cover the cost of running the team.

“Necessary expenses for the groups, such as equipment and coach fees, need to be taken care of before they can do special trips,” said Corti.

But some teachers were told there were other reasons for the ban. 

“Mr. Corti told me that the district is worried about the liability issue from these trips,” said biology teacher Douglas Mason. “Because of that we are not being allowed to take them.”

Corti denied having said this. He said the sole reason for the cuts are economic issues.

Clubs and classes such as choir are affected by these cuts even though students pay for most trips in full. 

Choir will feel the effect of the ban in the two highest-level choirs, chamber and madrigal. 

Additionally, students who aren’t already in the higher-level classes will miss out on these trips for the rest of their high school experience.

“Trips like these give valuable experience in other places, and in workshops that aren’t available locally,” said sophomore Caitlin Samson, a choir member who is attending a trip to New York this year. “Banning them isn’t fair to the people who haven’t gotten to go.”

After learning of the expected cuts, the school’s song team decided to argue against losing the trips. 

Although the song team annually qualifies for national competition in Florida, they would not be able to participate in these out-of-state competitions because of the new policy.

But song team members still hope they can save these trips.

“We were told that the trip is not officially cancelled yet,” said song captain Kelly Raab. 

Kelly said a group mostly comprising the team’s parents and coaches had a meeting Corti to defend taking the trips.

“The result of the meeting is that we are still checking out all trips,” said Corti. 

He will be attending a district meeting soon with a group of principals to look at all the variables involved. 

“The whole district is looking into this issue,” said athletic director Dave Kravitz. “They are trying to make a district unified plan.”