HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – On Aug. 26, students begin the school year across Christian County. With seven elementary schools, two middle schools, three high schools, alternative programs and an early learning center, hundreds of staff members have been working all summer long to ensure students have a successful school year.

The school system is starting the year on a high note, with all district director, principal, and administrative positions fully staffed. With continued excitement growing as construction for the new Christian County High School enters the eleventh month, Christian County Public Schools Superintendent Chris Bentzel is focusing on the success of their current classes and making sure the values and traditions of the existing high schools are engrained in students and carried on.

“It’s kind of a balancing act. We want to make sure we are doing the best for those juniors and seniors for the next two years and at the same time make it exciting for the class to walk through that building,” said Bentzel.

Teacher Corner

Inspired by the Education Foundation Teachers Warehouse in Clarksville, this year CCPS is opening Teacher Corner. The designated space will operate as a store for teachers to shop for necessary school supplies for no direct cost. Donations from sponsors, grant money, and planned Stuff the Bus events will help supply the store.

“Our teachers do enough every single day throughout the school year to provide a safe, highly engaging learning environment for our students, this is one more thing we can take off their plate to make sure they are effective in the classroom,” said Bentzel.

Materials like markers, folders, paper, tissues, and other classroom essentials will be made available throughout the school year at the store. People in the community can also help keep them stocked by dropping off supplies and monetary donations at the central office.

Changes for upcoming school year

Various projects over the summer led to a slightly later start in the school. Longterm planning has guided CCPS to reorganize a bit and attempt to balance overpopulation and underpopulation issues. Sixth grade students are also being reintegrated into the middle schools and out of the elementary schools this year.

Bentzel told Christian County Now that yearly maintenance was done on all schools with some repainting, ceiling repairs, and other touch ups initiated to create a warm, welcoming, safe environment for students. “They look really good, we are really pleased with the outcome and are ready to start school Aug. 26,” he added.

The biggest change this year will be the addition of Dr. Martin Luther King Junior Early Learning Center at the previous Indian Hills Elementary location. This new center offers programs for early learning, kindergarten readiness, and preschool for qualifying three- and four-year-olds along with holding the Inspire Early Learning Academy that opened in 2023 as a childcare center for employees of CCPS.

As the first day for all students approach, teachers are putting the finishing touches on classrooms across the county, eager to meet new students. Tuesday Aug. 20 will be open house for incoming high school and middle school students where they will be able to get accustomed to the school ahead of time and engage with teachers and print out schedules. Open house for elementary school will be Aug. 22.

Lee Erwin contributed to this report.

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