HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – As of Feb. 5, public schools in Christian County have remained closed for nine consecutive weekdays. During the winter storm that brought unprecedented amounts of snow and ice, Kentucky public schools have been utilizing Non-Traditional Instruction Days to help students stay on track with remote work.

“We learned this through the pandemic; nobody wants to be NTI. That’s not what we live, breathe and value. We value in person learning,” said CCPS Superintendent Chris Bentzel, adding that during these days off kids are missing out on mental health services, extra curriculars, and building relationships with peers.

The district is allotted 10 NTI Days by the Kentucky Department of Education, which have all been used as of Thursday. Moving forward, this means traditional snow days will be permitted as needed, and CCPS may have to use makeup days that are built into the calendar if additional NTI Days are not approved by KDE. This could potentially include students attending class on President’s Day.

What is keeping the doors shut?

“I appreciate the patience of our community,” said Bentzel, explaining that the sheer size of the county is what has caused so many days off. Since the winter storm, custodial staff and outside vendors have ensured that campuses are safe for students and vehicles. The concern lies with driveways, neighborhoods, and secondary roads throughout the county.

Due to the sheer size of the county, roads in central Hopkinsville may be fine, but if a neighborhood in Pembroke or Crofton is still covered in ice, it poses a safety hazard. Bentzel pointed out that another key factor is turnaround points for buses, which are often driveways or small roads where drivers turn the bus around after picking up kids. These small areas are still mostly unplowed.

While other nearby school districts have transitioned into alternate bus routes, concerns about managing the 90 CCPS routes while also informing all students of the change remains a challenge.

| EDUCATION NEWS: Read more from Christian County Schools

Meals available for students, looking ahead

Around 350 meals a day have been served to students since the winter storm via Grab-and-Go meal bundles. Bentzel told Christian County Now that cafeteria workers stepped up to provide breakfast and lunch to families of students.

“It’s good to see our families and see our students and also provide them basic necessities, especially if people can’t work for childcare reasons,” said Bentzel. The meals have been available every weekday between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. at Christian County Middle School.

With spring-like weather expected to hit early next week, road conditions are expected to drastically improve over the weekend. Families should look out for announcements about any additional closures, delays, or any additional information on the ParentSquare app.

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