By Austin Rust-
According to Administrator Amy Mason, the Adams County Christian School was recently able to upgrade its security system and install a covered walkway between buildings on-campus. These upgrades were completed over the winter break, and this spring, the school plans to install new motorized bleachers in its gymnasium, as well as repave and expand its parking lot.
“We filed for a grant through the Bureau of Worker’s Compensation to replace the bleachers in our gymnasium,” Mason explained. “They had a safety grant that went out to motorize bleachers. We received that $40,000 grant, and we raised the additional $16,000 we needed to finish that project, so a $56,000 investment is going into the school during (our) Spring Break (in April).”
At the same time, depending on the weather, Mason explained, the school hopes to pave its entire existing parking lot, and plans to create a gravel lot offering additional parking, as well. This will be paid for by funds from a generous donation given to the Adams County Christian School.
Over the winter break, the school was able to improve its security and install a covered walkway.
“Each school in Ohio could file for a grant from the Ohio Attorney General,” said Mason. “For the Christian School, that was $2,500. We were able to use that grant to purchase an entire new school security camera system, and we just replaced two end-doors in the main school building. In the gymnasium, we had higher-security glass doors installed, and we now have a covered walkway between all three buildings. All of the exits between all of those buildings, where students go back and forth, are now completely under cover – no more running between them in the rain.”
Looking forward, Mason noted that expansion of the EdChoice voucher program would possibly help the Adams County Christian School in terms of student enrollment. “EdChoice Expansion is put out by the Ohio Department of Education,” she explained. “It is for low-income families who are at the poverty level or below. They can apply for an EdChoice scholarship – they can come to our school, and the State of Ohio pays their entire way. That has been expanding every year.”
“This year it’s for students between Kindergarten and the sixth grade but in the next 2020-2021 school year, the State of Ohio has expanded that program so that kids in kindergarten to the 12th Grade at the (set) poverty level or below can apply to our school and receive a grant that would cover the full cost of their tuition. That’s a pretty big expansion in EdChoice that will benefit the Christian School, being as we have a lot of families below the poverty level. Those families are going to be able to come to our school now for free, including those with high school students.”
“EdChoice Traditional is based on failing school districts,” Mason continued. “In this current school year that we’re in, West Union High School is considered a failing school building, so students were able to come to our school for free in that (age) range. In the next school year’s list, Peebles Elementary, West Union Elementary, West Union High School, and North Adams High School are considered failing, so if you live in the district for any of those four buildings, just because of where you live – it’s not income-based at all – you can choose to enroll in the Christian School, and the State of Ohio will pay your tuition. That’s potential growth for us.”
“Obviously, those people would apply, and they would still have to be accepted to the school to receive that grant, but both EdChoice Traditional and Expansion are greatly increasing for people in this area,” Mason noted. “It also affects Brown County and Highland County; there are several schools in both that are failing. Those students can come to the Adams County Christian School (through the program), because we’re the closest non-public charter school in the State of Ohio.”
Mason explained that by law, the Adams County Christian School must give students who enroll through EdChoice the same state standardized tests that students in public schools are required to take. From this school year forward, Mason said, the Adams County Christian School has chosen to give state standardized tests to all of its students, including those who are not enrolled through EdChoice, so that it will be able to provide more data on its education outcomes to the public.
“The main difference is that we are not held to the exact same standards – we don’t have the same report card that a public school has. But we only get half the money that a public school gets,” Mason added. “For a public school in a failing school district, the average amount that they get per student is $8,400; we are only going to get $4,650 to educate that same child.”
“I’m convinced that our students are doing well,” Mason concluded. “We do standardized testing at the Adams County Christian School for all grades. We’re giving the same state tests ( to our students) that they’re giving at all of the public schools, and now that we’re starting to test all of our students, we’re going to have more accurate data for the public to see.”
On a final note, Mason explained that the improvements made to the Adams County Christian School over winter break were completely paid for by donations, and that at this moment, the school remains debt-free. Further, Mason shared details of the school’s three-year strategic plan, which has led to the purchase of an updated curriculum, improvements to the school’s campus, and a 20-percent pay raise for its teachers, with a second 20-percent pay raise in the works.
“Our goal is to be able to pay our teachers in-line with what other Christian school teachers throughout the nation make,” said Mason. “A 40-percent increase will bring our teachers up to where they’re right in the median of what Christian school teachers make across the nation.”
Whether the second 20-percent pay raise for Adams County Christian School educators will be included in the school’s next school year budget depends on final enrollment, Mason ended.
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