GREENSBORO — Since last week, Guilford County Schools has been busing students to polling places so they can vote, register or even just observe. That's sparked enthusiasm from some and opposition from others.

The optional field trip is a new, district-wide effort that school administrators say will better educate students on citizenship.

"Freshman year, we had civics and economics and we learned about what to do as citizens," said Erica Funderburk, a senior at Weaver Academy who supports continuing the field trips. "Being able to do that, senior year, with our friends is kind of cool to me."

But the initiative has split the school board's top two leaders.

Chairwoman Deena Hayes-Greene said she's excited about the opportunity for students.

However, Vice Chairwoman Linda Welborn said she thought the idea was unnecessary and was caught by surprise to learn of it when people began contacting her with questions.

She said she heard from some teachers who were concerned they didn't have enough advance warning about student absences as well as some parents wondering about the expense and whether the district had political motives.