School districts in the Capital Region were keeping a close eye on government travel advisories following three deadly explosions in Brussels, Belgium Tuesday.
Bombs exploded Tuesday at the Brussels airport and in the city’s subway, killing at least 31 people and wounding dozens, as a European capital was again locked down amid heightened security threats. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attacks.
READ MORE: Islamic State claims responsibility for deadly Brussels attack
The Edmonton Public School Board said it currently has three groups of students in Europe and 10 more are scheduled to depart by the end of the week. Nine more trips to Europe are planned before the end of the year. None of these trips involve travel to or through Belgium, so all will go ahead as planned, Edmonton Public Schools said Tuesday afternoon.
Edmonton public school officials said parents who wish to withdraw their children from a field trip can do so at their own discretion.
Elk Island Catholic has two groups of students from Archbishop Jordan High School en route to Europe this week. One group left Tuesday morning for Germany and the trip will go ahead as planned.
A spokesperson with the division said another group of students is heading to Italy on Thursday. The group was meant to fly through Brussels, but the school division is now working with the airline to change the flight. The trip will still go ahead, according to Elk Island Catholic.
A class of students with the Greater North Central Francophone School Board was in Amsterdam on Tuesday. They were set to go to Brussels Wednesday, but that portion of the trip has been cancelled. The school board is working with the tour operator to determine the rest of the itinerary.
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In St. Albert, one group of public school students is scheduled to leave for Spain and Portugal on March 27. They were initially scheduled to go to France, but that changed after the Paris attacks.
READ MORE: Paris attacks suspect reported to be planning new acts
Another group of St. Albert public school students is scheduled to leave for Greece on March 24.
The division said Tuesday both trips are still scheduled to go ahead as planned, but staff said they will monitor travel advisories from the government.
The Greater St. Albert Catholic School Division has been reviewing trips on a case-by-case basis this year. It said Tuesday a scheduled trip to Japan next week is still going ahead. A trip to Anaheim earlier in the school year was cancelled.
The Black Gold Regional Division – which includes schools in Leduc and Beaumont – cancelled all international trips for one year in the wake of the terror attacks on Paris. The decision will be up for review again in September.
Parkland School Division, which operates public schools in Stony Plain, said it has three school trips to Europe planned but none of them include Belgium. The division said the trips will still go ahead but it will monitor travel advisories.
Global News has requested information on Sturgeon schools’ travel plans and is waiting for a response.
READ MORE: Edmonton Catholic Schools cancel all international trips amid terror attacks
On Dec. 7, 2015, Edmonton Catholic cancelled all international school trips in the wake of terrorist attacks in Europe and the United States. In a very difficult decision for district administration, 20 trips planned between December 2015 and the end of May 2016 were shut down.
One week earlier, Edmonton Public put all its international travel plans on hold.
LIVE COVERAGE: Brussels on lockdown after explosions rock airport, subway
Alberta Premier Rachel Notley released the following statement on the deadly explosions in Brussels:
“It is with great sadness that I learned of the devastating explosions in Brussels. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families.
“These unspeakable acts are fostering the opposite of their desired effect. As the world grapples with another senseless terror attack, our collective resolve to stand tall against terrorism only grows.
“Terrorizing innocent civilians is a cowardly act. I know I speak for all Albertans when I offer the people of Belgium our condolences, our resolve and our solidarity.”
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