By JON WEBB
GLASGOW — Although both Monroe County and Caverna schools cancelled all remaining classes due to illness this week, only one school went as far to cancel its football game.
Caverna administrative officials decided not to go through with the Colonels’ matchup with Kentucky Country Day tonight.
The cancellation renders the game a forfeit, resulting in a 2-0 victory for KCC and a loss for Caverna in its first district game of the season.
According to Colonels head coach Nick Stephens, the administration’s decision stemmed from the Kentucky Department of Education’s recommendation that all extra-curricular activities be cancelled if school is closed due to illness.
Stephens said the decision also resulted in forfeited volleyball, junior varisity football and other games.
The Caverna Independent School district made the decision to close its schools Monday due to escalating levels of absenteeism spread over the course of a week.
“We started noticing it last Monday, when our (attendance percentage) level was in the low 90s,” superintendent Sam Dick said in a Sept. 29 Glasgow Daily Times story by Kevin Young. “As the week went on, we got down into the mid-80s, and (Monday) we hit 74 percent.”
According to the same story, the Kentucky Department of Education recommends that schools operate with at least 90 percent attendance.
Monroe County’s game with Franklin-Simpson will continue as scheduled, said coach John Petett.
Barren County High School Assistant Principal and Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA) Board of Control Director for Regions 3 and 4 Steve Riley said decisions to cancel games are handled solely by a school’s administration and are not controlled by the KHSAA.
“The KHSAA doesn’t have a rule like that. They leave it up to the local schools,” he said. “Some schools have a blanket policy (to cancel all extra-curricular activities after a school cancellation).”
Barren County schools don’t have such a policy, he said.
Because of the Caverna administration’s decision, the Colonels will drop to 1-5 on the year and 0-1 in district play.
The decision also bars the team from practicing until at least Tuesday of next week.
Stephens said the loss of time on the field will make preparing for the Colonels’ Oct. 9 game with Holy Cross difficult, but he’s used the situation as a means of inspiring his team.
“In our last meeting, I challenged the guys to come out and win our last four district games,” he said.
