When the school bell rings Aug. 13, the students and teachers of Old Dominion Christian School will find themselves in West. The school, located on Mississippi Hwy. 12, recently purchased the old East Holmes Academy facilities.
Dr. William G. Suratt, school administrator, spoke to a small crowd Monday night in their new gym on the changes and improvements they plan to make.
“I know a lot of folks over here grieved when East Holmes closed including us because these kids are our life and I hate that East Holmes closed” Suratt said. “We did a lot of praying about things and felt led to move Old Dominion over here.”
With the larger facility, Suratt said the tuition they charge would not pay the bills.
“We want folks to be able to afford a good education,” Suratt said. “Too many times we get our eyes on how much money can we make and that is not a factor at all. That is the reason why our motto is ‘for the sake of your children’ because they’re what it’s all about.”
When East Holmes closed in May 2006, the contents of the school were sold and Suratt said Old Dominion has a lot of work to get ready for their Aug. 13 opening.
“You don’t have to have an invitation,” Suratt said.
He urged people to come out and get involved in the repair of the buildings.
“We need parents’ support,” he said.
The school is seeking donations of time and supplies for just about everything from the classrooms to the cafeteria to the athletic fields.
One of the major undertakings will be the electrical work.
“Someone came in with bolt cutters and cut a lot of electrically wires,” Suratt said.
Eventually, he said he would like to put solar panels in the gym and on the football field to cut down on expenses.
“Our ultimate goal is to have this entire campus run by solar energy,” Suratt said.
He also has plans for the old high school building.
“The old high school building is the worst vandalized and it will be repaired and turned into Old Dominion Christian College” Suratt said.
The college, which would open in a year’s time, would have programs in general education plus degrees for those going into the ministry.
With new athletic facilities, Suratt said they want to start an area-wide church league for several different sports.
“It’s just an answer to our prayers” Sara McLellan, mayor of West said.
“I really have no idea how many students we will have,” Suratt said. “This campus . . .will open Aug. 13 whether we have 20 students or 200 students.”
Local News
Related Photos
-
Leslie Dees
ODCS moves to West
- Local News
-
-
KLE students sing ‘Smoke Free Me’ with Ott
Students from Kosciusko Lower Elementary will soon be hitting the radio airwaves with SmokeFree Mississippi spokesperson and radio/TV personality Paul Ott.
They recorded, along with several students from the Jackson-area, at the SmokeFree Mississippi press conference at the State Capitol on Jan. 25 in Jackson. The song, “Smoke Free Me,” talks of the pitfalls of second-hand smoke and its effects. -
Ware, Barber bound over to grand jury; no reduction in bond
After hearing testimony during a preliminary hearing today, Attala County Justice Court Judge Bob Jordan bound over Frankie Barber and Barry Ware to the grand jury.
-
Sears closing in Kosciusko
The signs in the windows of Sears on Veterans Memorial Drive in Kosciusko read: “Store Closing Sale,” “Entire Store on Sale,” “Nothing Held Back.”
-
No new info in Ellington disappearance
A year has now come and gone since local businesswoman Vickie Ellington has gone missing.
-
Man charged in shooting death on Rone
A weekend shooting has left one dead and another behind bars, according to the Kosciusko Police Department.
-
Planning: Supes, HCC prez discuss next steps
The steps to get the ball rolling on the renovation of the former Milwaukee Electric Tool Building for Holmes Community College’s new location in Attala County was discussed with the Attala County Board of Supervisors and HCC President Glenn Boyce during the supervisors' work session on Monday morning. An update on Montfort Jones Memorial Hospital expansion and renovation was also given by MJMH Administrator John Dawson.
-
Durant names new chief of police; Bankhead to retire
A new appointment for Durant's chief of police was revealed by the board of aldermen Tuesday night Jan. 17.
-
Board of Aldermen hear benefits of broadband
Mike Anderson, a regional broadband coordinator through the Mississippi State University Extension Service, spoke to the Kosciusko Mayor and Board of Aldermen about the possibilities that city-wide broadband Internet would bring to Kosciusko.
-
Reward offered in Wamble's robbery
A reward has been offered for information concerning a robbery, according to the Koscuisko Police Department.
-
Separated for a lifetime, siblings reconnect in Kosy for first time
Needles can be found in a haystack. That’s the conclusion of Traci Duncan of Kosciusko, her two sisters and a brother who had a first time meeting in the Duncan home last week. Adoption for Traci and Lori and circumstances of their siblings prevented them from knowing about each other. There was a void in their lives.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Romney Rolls to Easy Win in Nevada GOP Caucuses
Raw Video: Missing Family Found Alive in Ore.
Police Clear Tents From Occupy Site in DC
Killer of Fla. Girl Found in Landfill Gets Life
Army Orders Bradley Manning Court-martial
Cancer Charity Revives Breast-screening Grants
Heavy Snowstorm Hits Colorado On Its Way East
2nd Teacher From LA School Arrested on Sex Claim
Prosecutors Close Armstrong Inquiry, No Charges
Sights and Sounds: Football Fans Pour Into Indy
Unemployment Rate Down to 8.3%
Obama: Still Far Too Many Americans Need Jobs
GOP: Jobs Numbers Welcome, Can Do Better
Fla. Man Adopts Girlfriend in Legal Battle
More Deaths As Egypt Clashes Continue
Raw Video: Prince William in Falklands
Egpyt Protesters Blame Police for Soccer Deaths
'Lucky' 9-Year-Old Receives 6-Organ Transplant
Raw Video: Michelle Vs. Ellen in Pushup Contest
First Person: Will Peyton Manning Stay in Indy?
