Pop Culture Club Granted Permission for Kansas City Comic Con Trip

Litchfield Community Unit School District No. 12 Meeting | December 16, 2025

Article Summary: The Litchfield School Board approved an overnight field trip for the Litchfield High School Pop Culture Club to attend Planet Comicon in Kansas City. Student representatives presented a detailed itinerary and safety plan for the March 2026 trip.

Pop Culture Club Key Points:

• Destination: Planet Comicon in Kansas City, Missouri.

• Dates: The trip is scheduled for March 27-28, 2026, at the start of spring break.

• Funding: The trip will cost approximately $400 per student, paid for by families or fundraising, with no funding required from the district.

• Participation: Approximately 30 to 40 students are expected to attend.

The Litchfield Community Unit School District No. 12 Board of Education on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, unanimously approved an overnight field trip request for the High School Pop Culture Club.

Club officers Nick Cochran, Connor Rogers, and Claire Reed, along with sponsor Mrs. Sprankle, presented the proposal to travel to Planet Comicon in Kansas City, Missouri. The trip is scheduled to depart on Friday, March 27, and return on Saturday, March 28.

The students explained that the club, which has grown from 12 members to approximately 60 to 80 members over the last decade, previously traveled to the St. Louis Comic Con before it was canceled during the COVID-19 pandemic. They argued the Kansas City event offers unique educational opportunities, including panels with industry professionals and creative workshops.

“In pop culture, we don’t just like having fun. We also like developing our creative talents,” one student presenter told the board.

The group outlined a safety plan involving professional motor coach transportation, background-checked chaperones including former military and police officers, and strict adherence to school codes of conduct. The board approved the request following the presentation.