Groundwork begins at Cornerstone’s future site
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
A LARGE CROWD of students, parents, teachers and supporters gathered at the Cornerstone Christian Academy’s future home Monday where the building project was dedicated and a ribbon was cut signifying the project is moving forward.
Crews from A&L Construction of Presque Isle have been at the site of the former Jehovah’s Witness church at 180 Houlton Road for about three weeks beginning the foundation work for what will be six new classrooms, bathroom facilities and storage space. Among those attending the ceremony were former CCA principal Troy McCrum, left, Andy Yaeger, chair of the board of directors for CCA, holding the scissors; and Troy Heald, chair of the fund-raising and promotion committee, second from the right. Officials hope to be in their new home for the start of the 2012-13 academic year.
By Scott Mitchell Johnson
PRESQUE ISLE — If it’s God’s will, students and staff at the Cornerstone Christian Academy will begin the 2012-13 academic year in their new facility.
Crews from A&L Construction of Presque Isle have been at the site of the former Jehovah’s Witness building at 180 Houlton Road for about three weeks beginning the foundation work for what will be six new classrooms, bathroom facilities and storage space.
A large crowd of students, parents, teachers and supporters gathered at the Academy’s future home Monday where the building project was dedicated and a ribbon was cut signifying the project is moving forward.
“We have a lot of supporters … people who have prayed and donated and helped us along the way, and this was a time to let those people know that things are progressing,” said Andy Yaeger, chair of the board of directors for CCA. “We’ve had the building for a while now, but we needed the classrooms in order for kids to move in and be able to be housed here next fall.”
It was the fall of 2006 when a group of parents who wanted to have a Bible-based education for their children first opened Cornerstone Christian Academy.
“They got together and started with 19 students and volunteer teachers at the Family Christian Center, which is where we’ve been ever since. We have a lease with them and they have been very kind; it’s been a wonderful relationship, but their church is growing and they have more activities. They need some of the space that we’re using as classrooms for other things,” Yaeger said. “Our school is up to 36 students, and studies have shown that as these schools have started and once they have moved into their own facility, the growth has been significant. Instead of growing by 3-5 students a year, they grow by larger numbers. It became clear that both ministries were growing to the point where something needed to change.
“We’ve been searching for a new location for well over two years. A realtor pointed out this building to us and thought it would be a good location for us,” he said. “It’s on the main road but sets in a bit and there’s 11-12 acres here. The school owns a play set that’s in back of the Family Christian Center right now, so we’ll have lots of room to put it.”
The existing square footage at the Houlton Road facility is about 4,200 feet. The new addition is in the neighborhood of 6,800 square feet. Officials said the Academy will utilize the current structure for various activities.
“For example, we’ll use the chapel area that’s here as a ‘great room.’ It will be chapel for us, but there are also times when you need to have a wide open room for kids to do things and we’ll use it for those times, as well,” Yaeger said.
Yaeger explained that a private investor — who wishes to remain anonymous — bought the building for the school.
“The investor owns the building, and when we’re here,” he said, “we’ll lease it from him and the intention is that down the road, the school will buy the building from him.
“The investor has also agreed to pay the $275,000-$300,000 to erect the shell. The money that we’ve raised thus far from our fund-raising campaign will be used to do all the interior work once the shell is completed,” he said, noting that numerous volunteers have agreed to help with the interior work. “My guess is that hopefully in May the shell will be up and we’ll be ready to start working on the inside. We’ll need to buy materials to do the drywalling and painting, we’ll need to buy desks and other supplies. We’ll be paying for all the inside work … to put the partitions in, to put all the facilities in that we’ll need to open school in the fall. Those are the things we’re raising money for right now though we haven’t actually put a dollar figure to the completion of the inside work.”
Troy Heald, chair of the fund-raising and promotion committee, said this is an exciting time for the Academy.
“Cornerstone Christian Academy is thriving,” he said. “We’re all very excited about the work that’s being done.”
Heald first got involved with Cornerstone about three years ago after his wife, Marcy, accepted a teaching position with the Academy.
“The principal at the time, Troy McCrum, came and spoke to our church and we felt led at that time to get involved. Our son, Martin, is enrolled and it’s just been a blessing,” he said.
“This building project allows the school to have its own identity and to be a real viable option for parents,” said Heald. “The Academy is a non-denominational school and being in the confines of a church does associate you with that church. The relationship with the Family Christian Center has been a blessing and we probably wouldn’t be here if that relationship hadn’t existed, but both ministries are growing and they need to expand and coming out here without the confines of a church — regardless of what denomination or association that church is with — allows the school to become more visible to the community as a non-denominational school option. The future looks bright for Cornerstone.”
Officials are optimistic the new school will be ready for occupancy in the fall.
“In the end, it’s God’s plan,” said Yaeger, “but we’re hoping to have the work completed so we can begin the next school year in our new home.”
Currently the Academy is for students in pre-K to grade 8. Long-range plans include adding a high school curriculum and possibly even sports teams.
