By CRAIG FREILICH

CANTON – The annual French exchange trip for Canton’s William’s High School students has been cancelled for this school year.

“It was a joint decision between the French teachers who would be the responsible chaperones, and me,” said district superintendent William Gregory.

The decision was taken in the interest of the students’ safety in light of the terrorist attack on Paris last month and the growing number of terrorist actions.

“It is due to the unsettled conditions in Europe, and we decided it was prudent not to go to Paris and France,” Gregory said.

The trips are usually every other year.

“There would have been 22 going to France,” he said. Of the 22, 17 are returning to Williams next year, so they will have a chance to go then when the program resumes, as it is expected to do.

Meanwhile the other half of the exchange, the students coming here from France, will proceed as normal during February Break, Gregory said.

“At least they will still get the exposure” to another culture while they’re here, he said.