For more than eight years graduating seniors from Brookfield High School have raised money for a four-day, end-of-the-year trip to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla..

This year, the administration, citing liability and safety concerns, decided there won't be a trip.

About 30 upset parents and students confronted the school board about it Wednesday night.

"This is discrimination against the seniors. Other grades are taking trips. There's liability for every trip they go on," said parent Elaine Lilak.

"I don't understand. There's a risk everywhere. We can go to Six Flags and something could happen there," said Megan Murray, a 17-year-old senior.

Superintendent Joe White responded there's a risk in flying and staying overnight. "You're not flying to Six Flags," he said.

Director Joseph Raykie said the district takes extra risks with an overnight trip, citing air transportation as one of them.

"It's a safety issue as far as I'm concerned. I don't want my kid on a plane with these current conditions we're in. These kids can always go to Florida. We're just concerned about the safety of the students," he said.

Parent Faith Chaney said students were looking forward to the traditional trip, only to find out recently the administration decided against it. Parents and students weren't even given a formal notice, she said.

White responded that High School Principal John Yensick met with students in the auditorium about three weeks ago to talk about it.

The board said other Trumbull County schools also have canceled senior trips this year.

"Just because one district cancels, you do too?" 17-year-old Kayla Bloomer asked. "If they jump off a bridge will you jump too?"

Directors reiterated that the district doesn't want to get tangled up in lawsuits, should anything bad happen, even though parents signed waivers in the past.

Mrs. Lilak said football can be a liability and the district didn't cancel the sport.

"Everything is a liability," she said. "In my opinion that's not a good reason to cancel the trip. Should we cancel everything because of one unfortunate situation in another state?"

Directors pointed out that in the last five years only 25 percent to 30 percent of seniors have gone on the trip.

"That's not really the senior class," White said.

He said several parents have also said they can't afford the trip.

Director Louis Saloom said he dished out $500 when his kids went on one.

Students who are less fortunate can raise funds to go, Mrs. Lilak said.

"Every child can step up to the plate and do a little work on their own. If they choose not to, then that's their decision."

Saying they were going to stick by the administration's decision, directors suggested parents who want their children to go on the trip organize it themselves.

"We want the teachers and the parents going," said Kayla's mother Pat Bloomer. "I've been told there are some teachers who would go, but the trip was canceled before school even started," she said.

White said, "If a parent wants to take their kid to Florida they can do it. We could give them all the literature they would need. It just wouldn't be sponsored by the school," he said, adding another trip is being planned but it won't be to Florida.