As school districts across Kentucky brace for the loss of millions in federal COVID-era relief funds, Christian County Schools is taking a stand to protect a crucial $8 million allocation.
Superintendent Chris Bentzel, speaking Wednesday on WHVO’s Hoptown This Morning, emphasized that all hope is not lost. The district plans to pursue an official appeals process in an effort to retain its portion of the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds.
The funding in question is earmarked for the ongoing construction of the new Christian County High School on Fort Campbell Boulevard. Bentzel explained that while the loss of funds would be a significant setback, the district has taken proactive measures to cushion the blow. By earning interest on the $80 million bond secured for the project, the district has created a financial buffer to manage unexpected challenges like this.
The effort to reclaim the funds comes in the wake of a federal decision made on March 28. Newly appointed U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon informed state leaders that prior extensions to use ESSER funds would no longer be honored. This policy change is expected to impact districts in all but seven states across the nation.
According to reporting from the Courier-Journal, while the original deadline to spend ESSER funds was January, more than a dozen school districts in Kentucky—including Christian County—had been granted extensions through March 2026. That extension is now in jeopardy.
Despite the shifting landscape, Bentzel remains optimistic, noting that the district is actively pursuing every avenue to secure the funds that are vital to the future of local education.
