Grace Christian Academy on the move
Published by Jeff February 20th, 2007 in News, Schools.Grace Christian Academy has never had its own facility since it started in 2001. That’s about to change. Renovation is currently underway on the old Ryburn Automotive dealership on Highway 425 South, located across the street from Sonic Drive-Thru. The $300,000 plus project will be completed in time for GCA to move into their new home at the beginning of next school year.
The move was made possible by the donation of the facility by Bennie Ryburn, owner of the facility and of Ryburn Automotive. Their two children currently attend GCA, and after helping the school look at many alternatives, he says that giving the school the facility was their only option to establish the school in the way that would give it stability and visibility.
Currently, Grace is leasing space from Calvary Baptist Church, located behind Hollywood Cinema. According to Ryburn, Calvary is the only church in the area that was open to housing the school at the time it began. However, after six years Calvary’s leadership felt that it was time for the school to find its own facilities.
Grace began initially when five families began to discuss their desires for a Christian school in Monticello. Ryburn is adamant about the school’s description.
“If you call it a private school, I’m going to have to fight you over that,” Ryburn said. “It’s a Christian school. Any school that teaches the Bible to its students is not a private school.”
The school has made some significant investment to ensure its future. In December, the school called Craig Wascom to be its first full-time headmaster. Wascom is originally from Louisiana and is currently working on completing his doctoral degree in education from Oral Roberts University. With all coursework completed, he only lacks finishing his dissertation.
“We feel that it will really add to the community’s awareness of us, being in such a visible spot,” Wascom said. “There’s so many people that don’t know that we’re here.”
“There were other pieces of land around that were mentioned before; however, we’re excited about being able to essentially give a building back to the community by renovating and using an abandoned building in a way that everyone can be proud of.”
Wascom also points to some programmatic changes taking place at Grace to help move the school forward in some areas. When he arrived, many classes were combined grades, but he led the school to separate those closses, indicating that it was an important step for future growth and would also benefit the students.
“Now every class is taught at their own grade level. While it’s not economically feasible for us right now because of our size, we made the choice to step out and do that. We believe the community will respond positively to that,” Wascom said.
The school has long-range plans of serving kindergarten through twelfth grades. Currently, Wascom seeks to focus the school on grades K-8 and to do that with excellence before expanding the school to other grades. These plans are ambitious, considering that the school is admittedly not yet able to exist on its own revenues.
“If it was about money, we would not be able to continue to operate. However, there are some very generous people in our community who make it possible for us to continue pursuing the vision that the school has,” Wascom said.
Another immediate goal for the school is to receive full accreditation. It is already a member of the Association of Christian Schools International, but Wascom sees full accreditation as essential to provide the kind of education needed for the Christian school and to establish the school in the eyes of the state, region and community as a viable and attractive alternative to public education.
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Obviously it is a great thing to have a Christian school in Monticello. However, there is nothing wrong with the public schools that we have. We have excellent teachers who have years of service behind them, public schools offer great activities such as library, computer, music, pe, art, etc. that GCA can not offer, and public schools receive funding from the state which enables them to focus more on the future, and cater to the children. GCA works off of tuition and private funds, which isn’t enough to allow it to run on its own. If it wasn’t for the hand full of people who contribute a great deal of the operating cash to GCA, it probably would have closed long ago. Money only goes so far, and the people who are funding it, I am sure can only make their money so far. The numbers this year are at the lowest since the school opened (excluding the initial opening year) and if the school would have a more reasonable tuition that the “working person” could afford, then maybe they would have a larger student base, and would be able to expand to 12th grade sooner. Also, there are a lot of “hidden fees” that go along with tuition at any school that isn’t public (to avoid from calling it private). Not only do you have tuition but you have registration fees, book fees, facility fees, technology fees, etc. By the time you figure in the fees, one would say it would cost well over $4,000 to send your child to this school. I am a Christian, and I believe in good Christian education; it isn’t tought enough today. But, I think that people need to explore the public schools and see what all they have to offer. Sure, there are bad things in a public school, there are in every school; but you can’t make it go away. Eventually, it will make its way into every school. I wish the people at GCA great success, but I urge people to check out what their tax dollars pay for, and that is the public school system.
I agree somewhat with what was said in the comment above. I have a child who went to GCA for a year, and I have no complaints. It was, a little on the expensive side with all the fees and extras, but the education he received was very good. However, he is in the Monticello School system now, and I have complaints of our public school. Public schools gives them a chance to encounter things they wouldn’t in a “private school” and it helps them to somewhat deal better with issues. GCA will be a part of Monticello as long as the five familes who started it, and are still funding it, continue to do so. Now, when their kids reach the age that classes are no longer taught at GCA, or they graduate, whichever may be the case, what will be the fate of the school? This is a good school with good opportunities, but our public schools are great as well. A Christian school teaches the Bible and Christian principles, and no, you can’t get that in a public school. But, we can’t rely on a school to educate our children in this area. It MUST begin in the home, and with the parents.
I wish GCA all the best. My children attended there for a year. Everyone there were wonderful people. Having to pay for 3, it was way too much money for us, but they really enjoyed the experience while it lasted (they still talk about it!).
The decision of what schools to send our children to is a BIG one, especially in a town where there are two excellent public school systems. It’s too bad that the playing field isn’t more even for all parents to have that choice. Some parents would love for their children to have the instruction and environment of a Christian school, but there is no way they can afford it. I’m from the school of thought that says that if a parent chooses to send their children to an accredited private or Christian school, the equivalent government (tax) money for that student goes to that school. Otherwise, it seems that the parent is paying TWICE for their children’s k-12 education.
GCA has many hurdles to cross, and my thoughts and prayers are with them.
I would just like to let everyone know that we do have library, music, p.e., art, and spanish every week here at GCA. I do not send my child here to get her away from public school I send her here because I want her to learn about Christ everyday all day instead of just a church and home. I have had people tell me that I am crazy for paying for my child to attend school. But you know the sad thing I pay for all of your children to go to school also! Do not have a bad out look on something until you try it.
Why does it matter how many people give money to this school. It seem to me that the people that give money to this school care about childrens education. This school will survive because God wants it to. We have been so blessed so far. Things don’t happen over night but God makes them happen when it is the right time. There was a comment made that people send their children to private school if they have been in trouble in public school. We don’t have student here because they we in trouble. We have children because their parents want more for them.
I think GCS is an awesome organization that we are lucky to have here locally. Personally I cannot afford it, and I am not sure I would go that route even if I could, but I don’t see the sense in criticizing people that choose to send their children there.
I am very lucky that my child has had two great public school teachers in her two years in public school. (Melissa Reid and Paula Lane) I have no complaints at all about Monticello Elementary or any of their staff. At the same time, I would never judge anyone that decides to school their child through GCA. I hope GCA does NOT become a place where problem children are sent, but if they are, I am sure with the right help AT HOME and at GCA, any child could thrive.
I think it is GREAT that the Ryburns have donated such a large building that they COULD HAVE SOLD for a major profit. I think that is what this story was intended to be about anyway.
In the end, we all want to have well balanced, well educated, good Christian children. If you are able to send your child to GCA and achieve that, that is wonderful. If you have to do it through teaching Christ in your home and sending your child to public school all week and Sunday school on Sundays, that is great too.
No one has said that GCA was a bad place. It is a great place. I sent my child there and I have no complaints. I do think that today, personal issues are coming into play between the school and Monticellonians. GCA does offer activites for children, but because of money, can’t go to the extent that a public school can. I think that SW was a little on the defensive side in her comment; maybe she sits on the school board, or has close personal ties; who knows. Your qoute that you pay for our children to go to school also. That is your own choice. You pay tax dollars to the public school, and if you choose for your child not to go there and benefit from your tax dollars, that is your choice. But don’t try and throw out that you do someone else a favor by paying your taxes, and then choosing to send your child to a Christian school. GCA is a great place for kids to learn about God, but the home is where it begins. Let me say this that kids look to their role models (teachers, school boards members, parents, etc.). There are several GCA school board members (as I am sure there are public school) that highly consider themselves better than the general public, and it is evident in their appearance and attitude. Is that really setting a Christian example. I pulled my child from GCA because I wanted them to experience all that there was to offer, and there is so much at public schools. I am grateful for what my child learned at GCA, but I feel as a parent, and according to the Bible, god intends for us to train up a child at home, and teach him right from wrong, and about Him at home, where it all begins. I do agree with Shelly; I think the purpose of this story was to tell of hoe generous Benji was for donating HIS building to the school. There aren’t many people who would do something like that. But, other issues such as money and activites wouldn’t have come up I don’t think had it not been mentioned in the article by the Headmaster. Again, I do wish GCA all the best, but like it or not, just like public schools, there are good, and bad things about a private/Christian school, and sometimes the bad can end up out weighing the good.
My child has attended GCA for five years now, and no, I am not one of the original five. As a matter of fact, my husband and I would be considered a low to moderate income family. I was a part of Calvary Baptist Church when they voted to “house” GCA and I voted for it. As a mother of two teenage boys at the time, I said that if God willing, my daughter would attend GCA, no matter what the cost. As a public school teacher, I know the challenges that our kids face as far as peer pressure goes. As a new teacher just four years ago, I thought I knew what my boys were facing in high school in our public school system; I was wrong. My eyes were really opened to what my kids were being exposed to on a daily basis and it is not just in the high schools, it is in the lower grades as well. I have carried my children to church every Sunday, Wednesday, and any other time that the doors were open and I have had the oppurtunity to lead all three of them to the Lord. I teach them everyday about right and wrong, and yes, it is the parents responsibility to teach their children, unfortunately, there are many, and I do mean many, that do not share these same beliefs that my children were exposed to everyday. My spirit is crushed everyday when I talk to my students and hear about the things that they partake in on a daily basis. Every year I have to really pray for God to prepare my heart for another year and to give me the wisdom to make a difference in someone’s life. The sad thing about it is that it continually gets worse, not better. For a large majority of students, it is “normal” to have pre-marital sex or to use drugs. Even the best students who have been taught right have a hard time dealing with all of the pressure and not all of them succeed; they fail. I talk to my students about this on a daily basis, so believe me, I know. You really don’t know what goes on until you have been there and listen to them. It is really sad. One day my child will probably attend public school and that will be great. My prayer is that with the excellent foundation that she will have from home and GCA, she will be able to overcome all of the peer pressure and obstacles that she will face as well as everyone else does.
One day she came home from school when she was in the first grade (six-years old) and we started studying her bible verse and she told me that she wanted to be saved. I was real hesitant because of her age and tried to distract her from her thoughts, but she was adament. I looked at her daddy and he said I guess we don’t have a choice. I asked her many questions to make sure that she was ready and preceeded to say the prayer. She stopped me and said she wanted to do it on her own. She said the most perfect sinners prayer that I have ever heard and I know without a shadow of a doubt that she asked Jesus into her heart. She is nine years old now and still loves Jesus with all of her heart. She has one of the sweetest spirits a little girl could have. I not only give credit to God and my guidance, but I give a lot of credit to Grace Christian Academy for their daily Godly guidance, prayer time and teaching of the bible to my daughter.
Grace Christian Academy has some of the best teachers out there; as a matter of fact, three of them came for Drew Central that taught my boys. They are great teachers. We have some of the best curriculum out there; it is hard, but it challanges their young minds to go above and beyond. They also have great library, spanish, p.e., music, and art teachers. Oh, I can’t leave Mr. Wascom out; he is a great bible teacher and principal.
Grace Christain Academy was not started by man; it was started by God. God is the sole provider for GCA and will always be. He is the Alpha and the Omega and he will provide all of their needs according to His riches in glory. If God wants GCA to survive, it will; if He doesn’t, it won’t. Man was not in control in the beginning of this school, nor is he now, nor will he ever be.
Bottom line, GCA is a fantastic school; it has its problems just like Monticello and Drew Central and always will. I am very thankful that Monticello has a valuable asset, and when my children have children, they will go there as well, not matter the sacrifice.
Please continue to pray for the school and its guidance. Christain education is “priceless.”