Large pieces of construction equipment and semi-trucks removing debris are not a common site for the close-knit neighborhoods of Oxford Village. However, this past Monday, Oxford Christian Academy became the scene for such a production.
Pastor Jim Kester, of the First Baptist Church of Oxford, said that removal of the current Oxford Christian Academy building is just one step of many towards constructing a new school and fellowship hall.
“We had for a number of years been planning to build a fellowship hall and gym at the far end,” explained Kester. “This has really been a long time in the planning.”
He added that the church family has been prepared to construct the new school since September of 2002; however, there were several difficulties to overcome, with both area neighbors and the village council.
“We looked at all of them as good reasons and ways to improve our plans,” Kester stated.
The need for new facilities has become more and more of a necessity over the years. Founded in 1973, Oxford Christian Academy was moved in 1986 into the 10-section, modular building. The structure was purchased used from another school district and set at the site on cinderblocks, not a foundation. After more than 20 years in use, the school has begun to show dangerous signs of wear such as rafters and beams that are bending and warped.
“We knew that the school was not permanent in 1986,” said Kester. “Knowing that we were going to move it and knowing that it had to go because it was becoming an unsafe structure – we just found that the repair costs were more than rebuilding.”
“The church family talked and discussed about this for years and years. It’s nice to see it become a reality now,” he added.
The new school will feature a large fellowship hall/gymnasium, three to four classrooms, locker rooms and a kitchen. The building will be situated closer to the church with the possibility of the two structures being connected in the future.
OCA’s 35 students are currently being housed in the church. The program had 175 students in 2002, but with the decline in enrollment, it has since taken on a new focus. Kester said that the school’s originally purpose was to provide an alternative education program to the community; however, goals have now been brought back to helping the church family provide the best possible traditional education environment within a Christian setting.
“It’s been a positive and exciting year for us,” said Kester. “We are focusing more on our church families, but we encourage anyone interested in our school to come in, speak with us and apply. We want everyone to know that the school is not closing. It’s progress – part of progress is removing something and building something new in its place. That’s what we’re doing here.”
Church leaders hope to have the new facility constructed by the start of the 2004-2005 school year.