HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – Christian County Public Schools is set to demolish a school for the first time in decades. The former Christian County Middle School will be torn down within the next few months.
Originally constructed in 1959, CCMS was in use until the new middle school opened in 2021, according to Johnna Brown with Christian County Public Schools. The newly constructed building offered over 50,000 square feet of additional space, and a performance arts center.
At that time, the old campus was transitioned into office space for various departments and Christian County Day Treatment. However, it has been vacant since 2018, mostly being used for storage.
Cost of demolition
During the Feb. 20 Board of Education meeting, members voted to accept a bid from a vetted Georgia company who will demolish the school with their own equipment. The bid was the lowest they received out of nine submitted from various local and regional companies. The demolition alone will cost the district $241,000.
$400,000 was previously budgeted for the project, with the remaining funds to be used for asbestos abatement by a separate company prior to it being torn down. The demolition is expected to be completed by the end of May.
Superintendent Chris Bentzel said this is the first demolition of a school in the last 25 to 30 years. The district is still operating within their budget and are hoping to have a straightforward project with little to no change orders.