Temple Christian Superintendent Bruce Bowman welcomes students, parents, staff and supporters to tour the independent Christian school’s new elementary building Monday. Students will begin class in two weeks.
Photos by Mackenzi Klemann | The Lima News
LIMA — Renovations are finished at the new Temple Christian Elementary School, just in time for the new school year.
Enrollment at the private independent Christian school hit 360 students this year for preschool through 12th grade, a 45% increase from five years ago, prompting administrators to purchase the former Lima Manor nursing home on Lima’s Brower Road.
The 32,000 square-foot facility, located next door to Lima Baptist Temple, now offers 16 classrooms, a lunchroom and full kitchen and new office and restroom space for staff and students.
Students and parents toured the facility Monday following a dedication ceremony outside the school.
Temple Christian will welcome its largest kindergarten class — 40 students in all — when students return Monday, Aug. 26.
The school’s growth comes following changes to Ohio’s EdChoice program, which has made private education more accessible to families who previously earned too much to qualify for the publicly funded scholarship, commonly known as a voucher.
Lawmakers eliminated income and residency restrictions so all students are eligible for the scholarship, though the highest-earning households may only qualify for a partial voucher.
Superintendent Bruce Bowman said parents are applying to Temple Christian because the school aligns with their family’s values — the school’s motto promises a “Christ-centered education marked by excellence and grounded in biblical truth” — in addition to its academic offerings and graduation rate.
“The EdChoice scholarship makes it more affordable,” Bowman said. “There are plenty of families who say, ‘Oh, that looks good, but we can’t afford it.’ Now you can afford it. If you make less than $140,000 (for a family of four), you’re going to come here for free.”
Administrators are now looking for a new location for Temple Christian middle and high school students, as they anticipate class sizes will outgrow space the school leases from Lima Baptist Temple within several years.
The school is still accepting applications for several students entering fourth, sixth, seventh, eighth, 10th, 11th and 12th grade classes. All other classes are full for the coming school year.
