By Leslie Dees
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.”
