A Calgary Board of Education spokesperson says the travel "pause" it implemented late last month following the Paris attacks has been lifted, with the exception of France.

"Our top priority is safety," said Chief Superintendent of Schools David Stevenson at a news conference Monday afternoon.

Stevenson says the board consulted with more than 1,000 parents, students, teachers and principals in meetings and included 500 online responses in coming to the decision.

It was felt the risk was low enough to proceed with 20 trips in the 2015-16 school year that were previously planned, but four will not go ahead as they involve destinations in France.

Branton junior high grade 8 student Amelia O'Keefe says her school trip to Besancon, France in May — part of a student exchange trip months in the planning — has been cancelled. The French students are still coming to Calgary in January.

"Obviously I'm disappointed, 'cause we wanted to go and we were expecting to go and we've been preparing for this trip," said O'Keefe.

Her mom, Kim, says she's not happy about the CBE's decision.

Kim O'Keefe's, daughter, Amelia was looking forward to going to Besançon, France for an exchange in May. The trip has been cancelled by the CBE following the Paris attacks. (Danielle Nerman/CBC)

"I know that what happened in Paris was very tragic and serious, but I feel like it could happen anywhere at any time," she said, adding she doesn't agree with the board's view that France is a dangerous destination.

The O'Keefe's say the school principal is holding a meeting with the group on Tuesday night to discuss some alternatives, like postponing the trip until next October in the hopes the ban is lifted by then.

"You can't drag this thing on," said Kim O'Keefe. "Part of the beauty of the exchange was to make a real connection with somebody in France, between the kids here and the kids there."

The possibility of travel to France will be re-evaluated next fall after the board monitors the situation and travel advisories at that time.

"For many students (educational trips) are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities," Stevenson said.

Stevenson said the CBE attempted to mitigate financial losses for parents on cancelled travel.

"There will be impact on parents," he said. "By making the decisions early in the process [though], we have minimized their losses."