Christian County School System Superintendent Chris Bentzel announced major proposed changes and updates on consolidation at Friday morning’s Chamber of Commerce State of the Schools Eye Opener breakfast.
Bentzel says the district has been working with its partners to conduct cost analysis and to make cost-cutting changes to the proposed consolidated high school and they hope to re-bid the project as soon as mid-April.
He says the smaller project will maintain the academy model in less space and current plans are for the initial construction of the new high school to not include a gymnasium, athletic fields and several other items.
The current high schools would begin operating as a consolidated school with the academy model beginning in the fall of 2024, with Hopkinsville High School operating as the freshman academy and Christian County High and the Gateway Academy to house sophomores through seniors.
The Local Planning Commission will also consider a proposal from the district to move Hopkinsville Middle School to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School and disperse those MLK students throughout the district.
Bentzel also hopes to move students from Indian Hills Elementary to the current Hopkinsville Middle School and the Inspire Early Learning Academy would move from MLK to the current Indian Hills building—with all of those proposals tentatively set to take effect at the beginning of the 2024-25 school year.
The Christian County Chamber of Commerce announced Bell Helicopter has donated an Army helicopter and two salvaged T53-13B engines that will ultimately be passed on to the Christian County Public School System to be utilized at Gateway Academy for a hands-on learning program.
Bentzel presented the All-In Community Partner of the Year award to Hopkinsville Rotary, the Inspire Award went to Sinking Fork Elementary School, the Engage volunteer of the year award was presented to Caleb Lancaster and the Succeed Award went to Vex Robotics at Gateway Academy.
Listen to Bentze’s entire remarks below:
The Heart of CCPS Award for someone who exemplifies the mission of the district honored the late Karen Greene, who worked in the office at Christian County High School and recently died following a battle with cancer.
