Lakeland Academy Ready To Break Ground, Expand
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
With signs of major support and Marilyn Quayle on the way, Lakeland Christian Academy is ready to dig into its biggest expansion project in the school's 25-year history.
The private school has amassed more than half a million dollars in private donations and is preparing to break ground on a new complex that will cost $4 million when completed.
Officials are banking that groundbreaking ceremonies will show potential contributors to the project that plans are concrete and worthwhile.
"We know there are some individuals who have indicated they will help us at a certain point if we accomplish certain things, so we're in the process of doing that now," said John Urschalitz, vice chairman of the board.
"We're hoping and praying that when the time comes, they will step forward," he said.
With rising enrollment, the school has struggled with growing pains for several years. Many of the classrooms are in portable buildings, and student athletes don't have any home facilities where they can practice or play.
For nearly two years, officials at Lakeland have worked on plans to relocate the school's cramped campus near Grace College to a spacious 34-acre site along CR 250E, just south of U.S. 30 near the recent Homes on Parade location.
The main building will include a multipurpose room that will eventually house a gymnasium, locker rooms, a theater and stage and a chapel. It will be initially designed so that some of the space can be used for offices and classrooms.
A future phase will include administrative offices, more classrooms and a library. The site also includes soccer fields, a softball field, parking and extra room for even more growth.
The coupon fund-raiser netted about $16,000, but most of the donations have come from major gifts and grants, including one from Kosciusko County Foundation.
One donor provided a $150,000 challenge grant in which the school is expected to ante up $300,000 in other donations. Another donor provided $100,000.
Groundbreaking for the first phase of the project - a weather-tight shell that will include classroom and office space while fund-raising continues - is expected to occur within a few weeks.
The first phase is expected to cost about $800,000. That means the academy is hoping ground- breaking will spur more interest.
"The risk we run is that we have a big field with a foundation in it and nothing more, but we don't believe that's going to happen," Urschalitz said.
Lakeland can expect another lift on Dec. 12 when it hosts its annual banquet featuring Marilyn Quayle as guest speaker. Tickets for the dinner at Westminster Hall in Winona Lake are available by calling the school at 267-7265.
Aside from a coupon book fund-raiser, much of the effort until now has been behind the scenes and low-key.
Within the past two years, leaders have also restructured the board of directors to include more expertise in business affairs and fund raising. A Council of Reference, a 17-member board that includes numerous dignitaries from the community, was also created to provide better networking and links in the community.
The mission of board of directors has been altered as well, moving from a board that generally oversees and approves of activities proposed by the administration to one that is more proactive and guides the organization and "holds leaders toward certain goals," said Marv Retzer, school administrator.
The school has seen enrollment rise steadily in recent years. In 1995, the school served 87 students. Current enrollment is 127.
Lakeland touts itself as one of the best local academic institutions available. SAT scores over the past three years have been above 1070.
Aside from families and individuals who support the notion of private, Christian education, Urschalitz said, he thinks businesses might also see the value of assisting Lakeland.
"If you want to hire people who have the characteristics of our students, it would be to your advantage to promote their education now because these are the people who are likely to be running local companies in the future," he said. [[In-content Ad]]
With signs of major support and Marilyn Quayle on the way, Lakeland Christian Academy is ready to dig into its biggest expansion project in the school's 25-year history.
The private school has amassed more than half a million dollars in private donations and is preparing to break ground on a new complex that will cost $4 million when completed.
Officials are banking that groundbreaking ceremonies will show potential contributors to the project that plans are concrete and worthwhile.
"We know there are some individuals who have indicated they will help us at a certain point if we accomplish certain things, so we're in the process of doing that now," said John Urschalitz, vice chairman of the board.
"We're hoping and praying that when the time comes, they will step forward," he said.
With rising enrollment, the school has struggled with growing pains for several years. Many of the classrooms are in portable buildings, and student athletes don't have any home facilities where they can practice or play.
For nearly two years, officials at Lakeland have worked on plans to relocate the school's cramped campus near Grace College to a spacious 34-acre site along CR 250E, just south of U.S. 30 near the recent Homes on Parade location.
The main building will include a multipurpose room that will eventually house a gymnasium, locker rooms, a theater and stage and a chapel. It will be initially designed so that some of the space can be used for offices and classrooms.
A future phase will include administrative offices, more classrooms and a library. The site also includes soccer fields, a softball field, parking and extra room for even more growth.
The coupon fund-raiser netted about $16,000, but most of the donations have come from major gifts and grants, including one from Kosciusko County Foundation.
One donor provided a $150,000 challenge grant in which the school is expected to ante up $300,000 in other donations. Another donor provided $100,000.
Groundbreaking for the first phase of the project - a weather-tight shell that will include classroom and office space while fund-raising continues - is expected to occur within a few weeks.
The first phase is expected to cost about $800,000. That means the academy is hoping ground- breaking will spur more interest.
"The risk we run is that we have a big field with a foundation in it and nothing more, but we don't believe that's going to happen," Urschalitz said.
Lakeland can expect another lift on Dec. 12 when it hosts its annual banquet featuring Marilyn Quayle as guest speaker. Tickets for the dinner at Westminster Hall in Winona Lake are available by calling the school at 267-7265.
Aside from a coupon book fund-raiser, much of the effort until now has been behind the scenes and low-key.
Within the past two years, leaders have also restructured the board of directors to include more expertise in business affairs and fund raising. A Council of Reference, a 17-member board that includes numerous dignitaries from the community, was also created to provide better networking and links in the community.
The mission of board of directors has been altered as well, moving from a board that generally oversees and approves of activities proposed by the administration to one that is more proactive and guides the organization and "holds leaders toward certain goals," said Marv Retzer, school administrator.
The school has seen enrollment rise steadily in recent years. In 1995, the school served 87 students. Current enrollment is 127.
Lakeland touts itself as one of the best local academic institutions available. SAT scores over the past three years have been above 1070.
Aside from families and individuals who support the notion of private, Christian education, Urschalitz said, he thinks businesses might also see the value of assisting Lakeland.
"If you want to hire people who have the characteristics of our students, it would be to your advantage to promote their education now because these are the people who are likely to be running local companies in the future," he said. [[In-content Ad]]