HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – As of Feb. 5, public schools in Christian County have remained closed for nine consecutive weekdays. During the winter storm that brought unprecedented amounts of snow and ice, Kentucky public schools have been utilizing Non-Traditional Instruction Days to help students stay on track with remote work.
“We learned this through the pandemic; nobody wants to be NTI. That’s not what we live, breathe and value. We value in person learning,” said CCPS Superintendent Chris Bentzel, adding that during these days off kids are missing out on mental health services, extra curriculars, and building relationships with peers.
The district is allotted 10 NTI Days by the Kentucky Department of Education, which have all been used as of Thursday. Moving forward, this means traditional snow days will be permitted as needed, and CCPS may have to use makeup days that are built into the calendar if additional NTI Days are not approved by KDE. This could potentially include students attending class on President’s Day.
What is keeping the doors shut?
“I appreciate the patience of our community,” said Bentzel, explaining that the sheer size of the county is what has caused so many days off. Since the winter storm, custodial staff and outside vendors have ensured that campuses are safe for students and vehicles. The concern lies with driveways, neighborhoods, and secondary roads throughout the county…