Christian County Public Schools Superintendent Chris Bentzel is expressing his gratitude for both law enforcement and community understanding after a former daycare worker for MLK Early Learning Center was arrested last week.
Speaking with WHOP News on Tuesday, Superintendent Bentzel says when they first learned of the alleged incident, they immediately removed Constance Larson of Clarksville from her position in the classroom and contacted the Christian County Public Schools Police Department, who began an investigation into possible striking of a child.
Larson has since been arrested and charged with second-degree criminal abuse of a child under the age of 12, after video footage reportedly showed her striking a child with both hands’ multiple times.
He says they remain dedicated to making sure all children are safe and happy at school, all the way down to their youngest learners, and he hopes they’ve showed they’ll act fast to make that happen.
Bentzel also thanked the new CCPS law enforcement for their quick actions, saying being able to respond to a situation quickly was a real boon.
The initial incident was reportedly caught on a school monitoring camera, leading to the response of removing Larson from the classroom and her ultimate arrest.
Bentzel says they’re also celebrating the launch of the Racer Academy, a partnership between CCPS and Murray State University at the Hopkinsville regional campus. He says this is a tremendous opportunity for students looking to go into college after high school, setting them on the path to success.
Students will have access to in-person college coursework with a four-year university while still in high school while still in high school. About 45 students are enrolled for the inaugural semester.