Christian County school board members approved the amended 2021 District Facility Plan to include the possibility of consolidating the two high schools and Gateway Academy in the future.
Assistant Superintendent of Operations Josh Hunt presented an update regarding a change to the District Facility Plan. He said after the High School Steering Committee studied the options of consolidation or a two-school approach, they conducted a straw poll with a large majority of the members voting in favor of consolidation. After the vote, he said they began to refocus their efforts on the District Facility Plan and started to talking to architects and others, who recommended including the consolidation of the high schools in the district’s facility plan.
Hunt added by changing the district’s facility plan it would also ensure financing and bonding would be available and that the district has met the timeline.
If approved by the board, he said the next step would be to hold a public forum.
Superintendent Chris Bentzel ensured the board the plan can be changed and this is a regulatory process.
He added they were asking the board to approve the District Facility Plan and just consider moving in this direction so they can engage the community.
The board unanimously approved the plan.
The board also heard an update regarding House Bill 563 from Director of Pupil Personnel Melanie Barrett which goes into effect on July 1, 2022. She said the bill would allow students to enroll in the school of their choice outside of the county with SEEK funding to go to the district the student chooses. Barrett said at the conclusion of her presentation that she is confident it will not have much of an impact on the district’s enrollment.
