Harford County Public Schools, in the face of criticism and questions from elected officials, lifted its ban Monday on field trips and other school-related travel to Baltimore City, Barbara Canavan, superintendent of schools, said in a statement released shortly after 5 p.m.

The ban, described by school officials as a week to week decision, was first implemented in the wake of last spring's civil unrest in the city following the death of Freddie Gray in police custody. The ban was reinstituted Jan. 11 out of fears of more unrest in the city with the scheduled start of trials of police officers charged in Gray's death.

"At a time when we were continuously advised to suspend travel, we suspended travel indefinitely," Canavan's statement says. "On February 2, 2016 we lifted the suspension of travel for athletics and this week, following our weekly conference call with law enforcement and continued internal dialogue, we have lifted the suspension on all other travel into Baltimore City as the trials have been postponed and information from law enforcement supports this decision."

The ban had been criticized by Baltimore City elected officials last week and questioned by Harford County Executive Barry Glassman earlier Monday before Canavan's statement was released.

Glassman said before it was changed that he hoped school officials would revisit the decision and possibly reconsider.

"I realize it's a [school] board decision, but I think it's safe to say I'm hoping they'll take another look at it," Glassman said early Monday afternoon.

The superintendent's release acknowledged the criticism and tried to put it into perspective.

"We take great pride in what Baltimore City, and our entire state, has to offer our students as well as students across the country," the statement says. "However our number one priority is and will remain the safety of our students. We will always err on the side of caution and will continue to act upon the input and information we receive from law enforcement agencies."

Canavan also repeated that any future decision by the school system to ban school trips to Baltimore City will be made after the weekly Monday meeting.

"We have a long history of supporting the cultural attractions in Baltimore City and look forward to continuing our visits to and nurturing our students' appreciation for these cultural offerings and athletic opportunities in Baltimore City and across the state," according to Canavan's statement. "That being said, we will continue to evaluate travel from HCPS on a weekly basis and will put the safety of our students first in this and in all of our decisions."

After the riots of April 27, school systems around the region canceled field trips. That policy changed within a month as the city returned to normal. But when the trial of the first police officer charged in Gray's death got underway in December, some school systems, including Baltimore County and Harford County, again canceled trips. All other counties lifted the prohibition, but Harford took a different view.

On Monday, Glassman questioned that view.

"It's a trade off in this region," Glassman, who recently became board chairman for the Baltimore Metropolitan Council, said. "We all have to work together and support each other if we're going to be successful."

Glassman said institutions in Baltimore such as the National Aquarium, Maryland Zoo and various cultural entities benefit financially from visitors from outside the city, but "the children also benefit from learning and seeing different environments."

"It's finding that balance, making sure that we can ensure the safety [of students] and making sure that we help our regional cultural institutions out," he said.

Baltimore Sun reporter Liz Bowie contributed to this report.