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Cornerstone Academy digs in to build new high school
By Phyllis Coulter
pcoulter@pantagraph.com
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BLOOMINGTON — Cornerstone Christian Academy’s first nine graduates shoveled the first dirt to be moved for a new high school. | Photo gallery

The nine, who leave for college next week, joined about 150 people on the academy grounds Saturday for prayers and words of encouragement from administrators.

“It’s just neat. We were part of the first ground-breaking,” said Alison Clark, the 2007 valedictorian who starts at Wheaton College next week.

“I never thought we’d be part of this one, too,” she said.

Clark and her family were among those in 2002 who witnessed the beginning of the current academy on Ireland Grove Road.

The school has reached capacity, and older students eventually will move into a $3.5 million high school on the same 78-acre site.

Building in stages

Construction will take about nine months, but the school will be built in stages as money is raised. No completion date has been announced.

“We want to pay cash as we go,” development director April Kinzinger said. To date, the Hear from Heaven campaign has raised $1.5 million, she said. “The Lord is going to have to provide us the rest of the funds to finish,” she said.

Ron Brown, president of the board of trustees, said Noah took 120 years to build the ark. “Our completion date will be a little shorter,” he joked.

“From humble beginnings on Bell Street, (we made it) to this field of dreams on Ireland Grove Road.”

The school started 10 years ago this month with 45 preschoolers, administrator Becky Shamess said. Today, there are 10 times as many students.

Plans for 17 classrooms

The new school will have 17 classrooms; a large, central multipurpose room (capacity about 300); science labs; offices; and more parking.

The nine graduates each were given a clear paperweight containing a tiny gold shovel and soil from the school’s property.

“It’s going up on my shelf at home,” said Aaron Gregory, who leaves for Indiana Wesleyan University next week.

Cornerstone Christian Academy also plans to open a school in Bloomington in fall 2009 for children who otherwise couldn’t have a private school education.

It will be in the building donated by the YMCA at 602 S. Main St., after the Y moves to its new location in east Bloomington.

Take a look
Members of the first graduating class of 2007 and parents pray Saturday (Aug 11, 2007) at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Jr./High School classroom wing for Cornerstone Christian Academy in Bloomington. (Pantagraph/CARLOS T. MIRANDA)
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Reader comments on this story - 20 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

Fantastic place wrote on Aug 16, 2007 5:16 PM:

" Wonderful people, God-honoring. Bless CCA! "

Hey...Poorly Equipped wrote on Aug 15, 2007 4:20 PM:

" You really don't know what you are talking about. Shooting from the hip sometimes really makes one look stupid. Sorry you have such a bad feeling toward strong Christian education that equips students far better than you can imagine and prepares them to impact the world. "

WAY TO GO CORNERSTONE wrote on Aug 15, 2007 4:18 PM:

" Man, some of these postings are so far out there its scary. A lot of hard hearts. 99.9% of folks in B/N see nothing but positives coming out of Cornerstone. God bless! "

Diverse wrote on Aug 15, 2007 4:14 PM:

" Sounds like you have a chip on your shoulder or an agenda. Check your comments before posting, Cornerstone is taking over the downtown Y and starting a school for underserved and needy children. Far better effort than providing this thru, or trying to provide thru the public schools. "

Oh Happy day! wrote on Aug 15, 2007 4:11 PM:

" What a great school to be taught, in excellence, from a christian worldview. A tremendous positive for B/N. God bless you CCA! "

wow... wrote on Aug 15, 2007 3:13 PM:

" Now I know why Bloomington Normal is getting a bad rep. Looking at some of the posts on here go to show the straight ignorance of many, many people. Way to go, Cornerstone - trust me - the other 99.9% of this community know by far you are the best school in central IL - and prepare students so much more for life than the lousy public schools. Well done, CCA. Well done. "

Poorly Equipped wrote on Aug 12, 2007 11:43 PM:

" There is NO way having a school with a graduating class of only nine students can succeed in teaching balance, in teaching how to navigate through life. I think most people in small private schools like this are hiding out to avoid learning how to deal with the real world. If those kids EVER get out into the real world, meaning not going to a Christian School and getting a job as a Church secretary, I think they will be poorly equipped to deal with the real, heathen world out there. "

Loves CCA wrote on Aug 12, 2007 10:49 PM:

" If people would check into it, they would find that CCA gives tuition assistance to 25% of all the students enrolled. AND since the cost to educate in the public schools is pushing $10,000 per student (given to the schools to manage (?) by the state, $5,000 for a superior education is quite a deal. Get the facts, people. "

CCA Parent wrote on Aug 12, 2007 10:29 PM:

" We had to sacrifice quite a bit to send our child there, but its no more than most peoples car payment. We decided to drive old cars for a few years instead of new ones so our daughter would have the best education possible in this area. You just have to decide what's more important. "

re: To Great wrote on Aug 12, 2007 9:46 PM:

" What are some examples of arrogance shown? "

Mistake wrote on Aug 12, 2007 2:52 PM:

" Are not rich...my mistake "

cost wrote on Aug 12, 2007 1:32 PM:

" actually alot of students are on tuition assistance....for example...I am a student...but my parents are rich by any means...we are supported through the school...there are is a good mix of kids there... "

To JRTG wrote on Aug 12, 2007 11:22 AM:

" $5000 per year means that it's beyond the ability to pay of most folks under a certain income level. That pretty much insures a certain socio-economic background for students. It's a protected environment without much of the rough and tumble of public schools. Public schools do have their problems but they are a microcosm of society as a whole. Students in public schools learn to navigate the world (and the world is unfair) before they graduate. "

To:re Great wrote on Aug 12, 2007 10:03 AM:

" So you think being good is an excuse for being "arrogant" There is NO excuse for that. "

re: JRTGT wrote on Aug 12, 2007 8:51 AM:

" The $5k tuition keep[s out the rif-raf. "

re To Great wrote on Aug 12, 2007 8:36 AM:

" Since Cornorstone has a small number of students, youre kid's school probably beat up on them in sports like the ugly hated step-child. I'm not suprised they didn't show much "arrogance". "

To Great wrote on Aug 12, 2007 7:10 AM:

" You are absolutely right. I am not really a big supporter of private schools but I must say the dealings I have had with this school during sports was a positive experience. Those parents and administrators showed high class. Furthermore they were really nice and kind to us which is a far turnaround from other private schools we were involved with. They did not exhibit the arrogance of other schools. Keep up the good work Cornerstone. You have my support! You are a fantastic school! "

diverse wrote on Aug 12, 2007 12:13 AM:

" Hmmm. The school doesn't look very "diverse." It's not yet tainted by the hardships of Unit 5 and Dist. 87. "

JRTG wrote on Aug 11, 2007 11:53 PM:

" Fantastic - maybe. But WAY too expensive for the average family to send their kids. $5000 per child per year??? Come on now! "

Great wrote on Aug 11, 2007 11:35 PM:

" this school is fantastic...and Im glad it is growing "
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