Friday, June 22,
2001
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Christian school on brink of collapse By JOHN
THOMPSON
NewDay Christian Academy's survival is down to a matter of hours. The school on Flat Shoals Road in College Park, formerly Old National Christian Academy, may have to close its doors after 27 years as a Christian school of excellence. The school is at a crossroads as BB&T Bank, mortgage holder, has started foreclosure proceeding on the school property. The school has until Sunday to raise $111,000 to stop the foreclosure. "We're just hoping something will come through. Cascade Road Methodist Church is looking at helping us," said the school's business manager, Denise Curtis. Curtis said the school's financial troubles resulted from cost overruns in an expansion project. The $230,000, two-phase expansion project includes merging the school's two campuses into one. Cost overruns caused the school to dip into operating funds to complete the project to address overcrowded classrooms. The school was not successful in getting additional funds from BB&T Bank to cover the cost of the project. The school needs $500,000 to cover past due mortgage payments and other expenses and to order the curriculum and books for the coming school year. Old National Christian Academy, now known as NewDay, has been established for 27 years and services students from pre-kindergarten through middle school. Last year, the school had 277 students and tuition ranges from $4,300 to $4,900 a year. NewDay's mission is to promote the total and advanced development of children so that they are equipped to make a real and positive difference in the world. "We have a lot of positive things to talk about: Three of our former students graduated from Landmark Christian Academy High School in May 2001 at the top of their class summa cum laude, magna cum laude and cum laude," said Principal Tina Curtis. "Eighty percent of our students are honor roll achievers. Our students, on an average, test and score one to two years over the national norm on scholastic aptitude tests. World heavy weight boxing champion Evander Holyfield donated the funds to purchase the property to build the current facilities. His children attended Old National Christian Academy," she added. The NewDay Board chairman is the Rev. Charles Barlow, formerly a general manager with Xerox Business Services, currently a regional services manager with En Pointe Technologies Inc. He also is the deputy director of Georgia Summit of African American Business Organizations, a nonprofit organization. He has been a business turnaround specialist for over 20 years. All four of Barlow's children attended NewDay and went on to excel in Atlanta Public Schools and at Morris Brown College. He expects NewDay to be ready for his 1-year-old grandson, Jamari, when he reaches age 3. "At a time when the government is trying to pass education reform bills to spend more money to improve education in the nation and the state of Georgia, we are having trouble raising $500,000," said Barlow. "NewDay is already doing what our public and private schools are trying to do." The NewDay board launched a $500,000 fund-raising campaign March 4 when the new board members were installed. They have sought assistance from churches, businesses and foundations. Some of the largest churches in the metro Atlanta area have been slow to respond to the needs of the school, Barlow said. The board is in negotiations with Cascade United Methodist Church and other churches to form partnerships. This process could take until the end of July, which may be too late for the foreclosure deadline. The business community is responding favorably, especially the 100 Black Men, he said. Those who have heard the NewDay story have committed to help NewDay by giving their time, talent and financial support. Among these are Dr. Joseph Johnson, former president of Grambling University; Nate Golston, CEO of Gourmet Services, and Sid Levy, owner of two OutBack Steakhouse restaurants. OutBack sponsored a fund-raiser for NewDay and has committed to being a business partner. The board, parents, faculty and staff have worked together on several fund-raising projects to raise funds and awareness of school's plight. The NewDay parents sponsored a successful board-supported fund-raiser May 19 to complete the modular expansion project. The expansion modules are now complete phases one and two but money is still owed the contractors. "Through all of our trials we have triumphed through faith in God and teamwork. We have planted and watered, but God gives the increase. We ask you to make the decision to join us in a partnership that will benefit the children and youth of metropolitan Atlanta through NewDay," said Barlow To help call 770-996-0404.
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