Federal government shutdown sidelines football, other activities at schools for military families

Louisville, Ky. – Louisville, Ky. (AP) – The Fort Campbell and Fort Knox secondary schools in the secondary schools were sidelined on Friday by the closure of the federal government, which interrupted extracurricular activities in the schools of military families.

Schools on the historic army positions remain open to normal educational activities, but the dead end of the congress left students and their families in limbo with regard to other activities related to the school. Fort Knox is in the center of Kentucky while Fort Campbell rides the border of Kentucky-Tennessee.

The two football teams were to play on Friday, but their matches were postponed. But the cessation of extracurricular activities – even practices – applies to much more than football.

The Fort Campbell High women’s volleyball team was on a historic race, compiled a 11-2 file for a school without a winning season for 15 years in sport. The team’s senior night match was canceled on Thursday and two other upcoming games could also be if the federal closure continues.

Mary Hughes, the coach of the volleyball team, said on Friday that his players had shown “so much grain and tenacity” but for the moment no control over how their season ends.

“Everyone is really sad,” she said. “Life as a military child is already quite difficult. They take care of so many things and sport is an aspect of their life which is so important for them. Gives it for self -esteem, confidence, teamwork. And for it to be removed simply because we live on the position … is simply unfair.”

Bianca Carolina said she was saddened that her son’s football team at Fort Campbell High had to postpone her game. She said she was afraid that the closure could slip, affecting the rest of the season. Her son Jaeden began to practice for the season in January.

Fort Campbell’s football team was to play Trigg County Kentucky on Friday, but this match was reprogrammed until October 30, said Doug Gloyd’s Doug Gloyd County athletics director on Friday.

“It is very discouraging, but I am grateful and grateful to have been able to reprogram,” said Carolina. “They have spent a lot of time in the football season.”

Carolina, 36, works in post in Fort Campbell and is currently on leave when closing.

Kentucky senator, Mitch McConnell, intervened in the matter. On Friday, the Republican senator wrote to the Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, asking that athletics and the parascular schools of the schools be appointed as activities authorized to proceed despite the closure.

Jerry Gilliam, the judge-executive in the county of Christian, Kentucky, who includes part of Fort Campbell, was one of those who asked McConnell to get involved.

“These young people are already carrying unique charges as sons and daughters of ourselves, and this additional barrier deepens their sacrifice,” said Gilliam in writing to McConnell.

The closure has disrupted sports in other military secondary schools, including the Lejeune camp football team in North Carolina. Camp animator Lejeune this week, Northside High School, put back her return match to play on Tuesday, before the closure took effect on Wednesday.

The education activity of the Ministry of Defense, known as Dodea, manages prekindernity through the 12th year educational programs for the Ministry of Defense. He said on Friday that his schools will remain open to normal educational operations when the government closed.

“However, sporting events, sports practices and all extracurricular activities are not considered as activities except during a forfeiture of credits,” he said in a statement. “Consequently, these activities, including those held outside the school day, will remain interrupted during the closure.”