SAN DIEGO -- A planned trip to China by members of the San Diego Unified School District is upsetting several parents after San Diego School Board President Sheila Jackson said taxpayers should pay for the visit, 10News reported.

Barnard Chinese Magnet School is the first and only Chinese Magnet program in the district. Students are learning Mandarin and about the Chinese culture. This year, five district employees will be taking a trip to China. The Chinese government is helping pay for more than 400 American educators to see Chinese schools, but not all expenses are paid for.

Jackson asked taxpayers to pay for her airfare and registrations costs, which total $835.

"The overall cost doesn't matter; it's the principle," said mother of two Alicia Snow. "That's taking away from the children they claim to work for. Nobody has the money to be going on field trips like that right now."

Last October, the school district imposed a spending freeze.

"How can you justify this expense?" asked 10News' Charisse Yu.

"We do have a spending freeze, but we do have a $1 billion budget. A spending freeze doesn't mean the district stops spending money," said Bernie Rhinerson of the San Diego Unified School District.

Barnard Principal Edward Park explained to 10News how a trip to China would benefit kids in the classroom.

"To have our people, our district folks, to go over there and to be able to network and partner up with Chinese educators as well as Chinese policy makers, it will bring back closeness in terms of resources to our community," Park said.

For Snow, it's not a good enough answer. She said the money should be going directly to the kids.

"Whether you have children in the San Diego school system or not, every citizen is paying taxes for this trip," said Snow.

The other employees going on the China trip are paying for the extra costs out of their own pocket.

Jackson did not return 10News' calls for comment.