HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – With the size of Christian County and the placements of schools in the district, CCPS bus drivers start bright and early every day to ensure that over 70 routes are covered throughout the 700 square miles of the county.

“We have our ups and downs; busses are a different animal and different environment,” CCPS Superintendent Chris Bentzel told Christian County Now. “It’s hard to be a bus driver, and we are very appreciative of what they do and what they bring to the district.”

With Hopkinsville located centrally in the county holding the middle and high schools, that leaves northern most Crofton and southern most Lafayette a substantial distance away. According to Bentzel, the average bus travels 125 miles a day driving back and forth in and out of Hopkinsville.

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Bringing in new drivers, route planning

Going into the 2025-26 school year, the district brought in about ten new bus drivers. There is a month’s long hiring process that includes a physical, background check, driving test, and CDL training.

“We are trying to get as many drivers as we can, we are trying to build our applicant pool,” Bentzel added. Continuous recruiting also involves prioritizing hiring substitutes, so the district is not scrambling when a driver is out. He is hoping they can build up to having close to 80 or 90 drivers to make sure they are properly covered for all 76 routes.

Due to the expansive nature of the county, each route is laid out in the most efficient way possible without exceeding capacity. A few designated workers in the transportation department unscramble the complex puzzle of routing busses by utilizing a fairly new electronic system that makes sure the chosen routes are accurate and efficient

As far as actual busses goes, last year the district received a $2 million grant that would cover the cost of six electric busses for the district. All in all, he said there are no glaring issues, and believes that they are best utilized within the city limits, however, this year they will really be put to the test. Bentzel said, “The verdict is still out, they are still less than a year old. I’ve heard some manufacturer recalls that we’ve had to deal with.”

So far this year, Bentzel believes the school year is are off to a great start with the help of the faculty and staff. Any parents or guardians that have experienced issues with bus routes can contact the CCPS office at 270-887-7000.

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