While students continue to enjoy summer break, administrators and educators have started preparing for the school year. Christian County Public Schools Superintendent Chris Bentzel appeared on WHOP to discuss new rules and the current federal funding freeze.
Senate Bill 181 was passed during the 2025 Kentucky General Assembly and requires all school employees and volunteers to only communicate with students through a traceable forum and noncompliance could result in legal consequences.
Last year, the school board approved the use of StudentSquare and ParentSquare, traceable forums that allow teachers to communicate with students and their guardians. Bentzel says coaches, band directors and school volunteers who are newer to using the platforms are becoming more accustomed to communicating through them.
However, parents and guardians can sign a consent form allowing their student to communicate with a specific school employee via a non-traceable forum.
In late June, the United States Department of Education froze nearly $7 billion in federal education funds after it was already appropriated by congress. CCPS was set to receive around $1.1 million in federal funds, and Bentzel calls the freeze unfortunate but says the amount was not crucial and they are moving forward.
The first day of school is August 18.