There was recognition of accomplishments, performances by local students and discussion of the upcoming vote on the nickel tax at Tuesday morning’s State of the Schools breakfast hosted by the Christian County Chamber of Commerce.
Christian County School System Superintendent Mary Ann Gemmill noted that there are no longer any schools with a federal designation and that Indian Hills Elementary School has gone from near the bottom of the pack to become the best-performing school in the district.
She noted that while there is still a lot of improvement left to be made, Christian County’s graduation rate is above the state average and $9.1 million in scholarship money was awarded to the 2019 graduating classes.
Gemmill says poverty continues to be a challenge for Chrsitian County students, with 73 percent qualifying for free or reduced lunch. All students in Christian County currently receive free meals because that number is so high.
Gemmill introduced School Board Attorney Jack Lackey to give an overview on facility needs as Chrsitian County voters will decide on the proposed nickel tax increase in the November 5 general election, saying local students deserve the best facilities the community can provide.
Lackey compared Christian County’s tax rates with comparable counties that have higher levies. He claims there’s no other way to build a new academic building for Hopkinsville High School if the voters don’t approve the increase that would mean an extra $55 on the annual property tax bill for the owner of a $100,000 home.
https://www.facebook.com/whopradio/videos/527715524477337/?__xts__[0]=33.%7B%22logging_data%22%3A%7B%22page_id%22%3A109029745797694%2C%22event_type%22%3A%22clicked_all_page_posts%22%2C%22impression_info%22%3A%22eyJmIjp7InBhZ2VfaWQiOiIxMDkwMjk3NDU3OTc2OTQiLCJpdGVtX2NvdW50IjoiMCJ9fQ%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22www_pages_home%22%2C%22interacted_story_type%22%3A%22565413710334575%22%2C%22session_id%22%3A%221161c26e536737d5c43dd56d76d2501b%22%7D%7D
https://www.facebook.com/tom.bell.100483/videos/2698966036793855/UzpfSTEwOTAyOTc0NTc5NzY5NDoyNzc4OTkxMTY4ODAxNTI1/?__xts__[0]=33.%7B%22logging_data%22%3A%7B%22page_id%22%3A109029745797694%2C%22event_type%22%3A%22clicked_all_page_posts%22%2C%22impression_info%22%3A%22eyJmIjp7InBhZ2VfaWQiOiIxMDkwMjk3NDU3OTc2OTQiLCJpdGVtX2NvdW50IjoiMCJ9fQ%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22www_pages_home%22%2C%22interacted_story_type%22%3A%22565413710334575%22%2C%22session_id%22%3A%221161c26e536737d5c43dd56d76d2501b%22%7D%7D