It’s now day 18 of the partial government shutdown, and hundreds of thousands of federal workers are still off the job or working without pay, as our national museums and monuments remain closed.
Action News Jax has learned local eight-graders are also being affected.
Students from Valley Ridge Academy are in Washington, D.C., now, but due to the government shutdown, their visits to the Smithsonian, the National Archives and the White House have been canceled.
Each child's parents paid $855 to send them on the optional trip.
Stefania Diaz’s sister is going Sunday with Liberty Pines Academy.
“It’s a huge concern,” Diaz said. “She worries about it a lot. And with everything that’s going on, she really doesn’t know what to do.”
Smithsonian visits: ❌
— Russell Colburn (@RussellANjax) January 9, 2019
National Archives trip: ❌
White House tour: ❌
These St Johns students are making the best of their #WashingtonDC trip despite the #GovernmentShutdown.
The changes they’ve had to make to a nearly $900 trip due to the shutdown- tonight on @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/tWwb33X6VC
Elizabeth McCurdy is going, but her mother, Dintare McCurdy. says its unfortunate that eight-graders are missing out because of the political battle between President Donald Trump and Congress over funding for a border wall.
“They shouldn’t (be caught in the middle), for sure,” McCurdy said. “Absolutely, none of us should.”
The St. Johns County School District said no parents have asked for their money back and in a statement, it told Action News Jax ,in part, “While it is unfortunate that the government is currently shut down, it has had minimal impact on the sights and activities in which students are participating."
“Are you worried at all about things not being available?” Action News Jax reporter Russell Colburn asked Elizabeth McCurdy.
“A little bit, but I think we’ll still have fun anyway,” she said.
Clay County schools have trips to Washington planned for March, and Putnam County schools are planning to go in May.
Cox Media Group
