The Christian County School Board approved construction changes and new purchases for the consolidated Christian County High School, as well as received updates concerning the expansion of Martin Luther King Jr. Early Learning Center at Thursday’s meeting.
Kevin Hitchell from Alliance Corporation shared that construction is continuing on schedule for the consolidated high school and presented seven change orders for the board’s consideration. The orders include changes such as stair and rail revisions, electrical revisions for a gym scoreboard and labor costs associated with installing the scoreboard.
Regarding the change orders, District Four Representative Rebecca Pepper shared that the school system can afford them because the original construction of the high school was well within their budget. Superintendent Chris Bentzel says the proposed change orders cost around $157,000, leaving them with around $3.9 million in their construction contingency fund.
Assistant Superintendent Jason Wilson shared that the main gymnasium’s scoreboard will be four-sided with 6.5-foot by 8.2-foot screens on each side. He says the scoreboard will be similar to those in college arenas, and it will also come in handy for video presentations.
Board members also approved the installation of speaker systems in the high school’s main gymnasium, auxiliary gymnasium, commons and weight room for a cost of around $208,000.
Turning toward the early learning center, Principal Kim Lint shared that on November 19, they will be hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony spotlighting the building’s internal expansion. The expansion is set to cost around $400,000 and is being funded by a partnership between Jennie Stuart Health and the school district.
Lint says the partnership will allow them to establish nine new classrooms in the early learning center, and four of them are set to open by December 4.
Lint says the expansion will allow them to admit over 100 more children to their Inspire Childcare program.
To conclude the meeting, the board members approved the calendar for the 2026-27 school year. Next year, school will start on August 19, 2026, and then the last day will be May 27, 2027.