Andy Vaughan
andyv@isb.ac.th
This past Tuesday was the deadline for GCW payments. We will be following up on all missing payments next week. It is useful to share that the costs of GCW courses are based on travel expenses, charges by the organizing companies, lodging and food costs, and often other factors. For each course, there are different circumstances ranging from companies that have single, all-inclusive charges to trips on which each facet requires individual payments.
ISB does not retain any money on GCW courses, so estimated costs for parents are based solely on the charges the course requires. In cases where costs run under budget there is always a refund to parents. We always try to find the best costs possible, however, it is important to note that we first prioritize safety. The companies we use ensure first aid trained guides, safe equipment, and high standard experiences, hence these improvements and commitment to safety standards in recent years have an effect on overall costs of trips.
Over the past few years, ISB has also greatly enhanced our safety and risk management procedures for each individual trip including vetting trip providers, working with various safety personnel in the region, and providing additional training for our teachers. In the HS PTA meeting on January 2