TEXARKANA, Ark. -- Faith Assembly of God recently announced open enrollment for its new school, the Texarkana Christian Academy, which is set to begin classes in the fall.
TCA will serve students in junior kindergarten (age 4) through eighth grade. Each year, a grade level will be added to eventually transition TCA into a preschool-through-12th grade campus.
The 6-year-old building that will house the school is directly behind the church, at 2001 Arkansas Blvd. The building, which executive pastor Jason Griffin said has an estimated value of $4 million, was constructed with the plans of eventually housing a school. It previously had been used for Sunday school, some Wednesday night services and various other events.
The 26,000-square-foot building has an event center, cafeteria, education wing and full-sized gymnasium. The education wing has 12 full-sized classrooms that are being converted from Sunday school classrooms to school classrooms.
Stephanie Carver, former principal at Trinity Christian School, will lead TCA. She was selected by lead pastor Brian McDonald and the Faith Assembly board.
"I am extremely excited to see what God is going to do in the hearts and lives of the students at TCA," said Carver, who has 17 years of administrative and teaching experience in public and private Christian schools. "I am passionate about students receiving an education founded on the truth of God's Word and equipping them spiritually and academically for life beyond school walls. God has called me into this ministry at this specific time."
Carver said TCA administrators are looking to start with between 10-15 students and at least one teacher for each grade level.
"When you get over that number (15) per class, it's not really a small class size anymore," she said. "And that's kind of the appeal to a private school or Christian school is that you don't have 24 kids in your class."
She said the school will provide an affordable alternative option for parents who don't want to send their children to public school or parents who don't want to homeschool.
"It's basically to meet that need for families who want to have a Christian education," Carver said. "It's something that the church board and Brother McDonald have had thoughts about for years. It was something that families in our church were needing and asking for. So, we just wanted to have an option for families in the Texarkana area who desire to have a Christian education, and try to make it affordable for them."
According to Carver, tuition costs $3,850 per year for the first child and $3,000 for the second child ($6,850 total). The family max is capped at $7,850 for three or more children.
Jason Griffin estimated that start-up costs for the school will be about $20,000-$25,000, which will be paid for through tuition funds, fundraisers and potential donations and scholarships.
"It's about the children, and it's about getting them an education," Griffin said. "It's not as much about profitability."
Carver said there are challenges to starting up a new school, but ultimately it was something she felt called to do.
"It's very exciting," Carver said. "Parts of it are terrifying. I have a whole lot of public and Christian school experience, and I feel like it's something that God has called me to do: education.
"I've not built something from the ground up, but I feel like it's what God called me to do. So, I'm just having to put faith in him to meet all of the needs we're going to have."
TCA will hold an informational meeting at Faith Assembly's Arkansas Boulevard campus from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday, April 2, when the school can be toured, questions can be asked and parents can meet the staff.
A door opens into one of the rooms that will be converted into a school room for Texarkana Christian Academy, which is at Faith Assembly of God's Arkansas Boulevard campus. (Staff photo by Andrew Bell)
A message is shown on a chalkboard inside a Sunday school classroom that will become part of
Texarkana Christian Academy at Faith Assembly of God's Arkansas Boulevard campus in Texarkana, Arkansas. The school is expected to open in the fall. (Staff photo by Andrew Bell)
Faith Assembly of God is converting this Sunday school classroom into a regular classroom for Texarkana Christian Academy. (Staff photo by Andrew Bell)