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Edmonton Public Schools puts international travel on hold

The Edmonton public school board is placing all international travel for students on hold.

The board told its principals there will be no trips outside of Canada "for the present and foreseeable future."

"That doesn't mean cancelled; it doesn't mean approved," board spokesperson Brad Stromberg said in an email. "It means we are taking time to re-evaluate all field trips and make informed decisions."

Until further notice, no school will collect any further field trip payments, he said.

The decision comes two weeks after terrorists killed 130 people in Paris.

"Student and staff safety are paramount and must be at the root of all our decisions," Stromberg said.

"It's a difficult decision and we know some people will be disappointed, but we will err on the side of caution," he said.

"We will communicate with parents, students, caregivers as final decisions are made about specific trips currently planned."

Edmonton's Catholic school board hasn't made a decision on field trips at this point. But the issue will be discussed in the next couple of weeks, a spokesperson said.

The Calgary public school board announced earlier that it would not permit any international trips.