Christian County School Board members received a presentation concerning the Christian County Learning Center’s new Day Treatment Program at Thursday’s meeting.
The Christian County Learning Center is located at the old Christian County High School and houses Bluegrass Learning Academy, the Virtual Learning Academy, Focus and Finish and the newly created Day Treatment Program operated by the Christian County Public School System.
The Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice operates treatment programs where students who are court-ordered or have a pattern of behavioral issues can complete school work while receiving therapy. The school system’s program started on July 7 and currently has 36 students.
Student Services Director Kim Stevenson says the school system launched its own program, because the Christian County Regional Day Treatment Program had a capacity for 24 CCPS students, and they needed more spots.
Stevenson says their goal is for students to successfully complete the program and transition back to their original schools. She also shared that students in the program can go on field trips and are required to do community service.
Along with the new Day Treatment Program, Stevenson spotlighted some behavioral referral trends. During the 2025-26 school year, Stevenson says referrals increased by 10% in comparison to the previous school year. She says the main reason for the increase was a rise in violations surrounding personal electronic devices.
During the recent school year, Yondr pouches were implemented in the high schools and students were no longer allowed to use cellphones during the school day because of the passage of Kentucky House Bill 208 during the 2025 General Assembly.
Without the referrals concerning personal electronics, Stevenson says behavioral referrals in the 2025-26 school year would have been lower than the referrals issued during the previous school year.
Work continues at the consolidated Christian County High School and board members approved nine construction change orders. Assistant Superintendent Jason Wilson says the change orders concerned painting services, flooring and work taking place at the Stadium of Champions.
Prior to the meeting, Board Chair Tom Bell says the district had a construction contingency fund of around $2.7 million, and after the approval of the change orders and a furniture purchase, it decreased to around $2.4 million.
The high school is set to open on August 19 for the first day of school, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony will be hosted on August 6.