'Hand of God' keeps Concordia student body intact

Students at Concordia Academy's Bloomington campus will have to part with their classrooms, red-and-white school colors and beloved Lancer mascot at the end of this school year. But they won't have to say goodbye to each other.

A group of parents, staff, students and community members have figured out a way to keep the school's 7-12 student body largely intact next year despite the academy's decision to close its south campus at the end of the year. The student body will join with the student body now attending Mt. Hope-Redemption Lutheran School, a K-6 school that had also decided to shut its doors next year because of financial constraints.

The new school, to be known as Lion's Gate Christian Academy, will open this fall thanks in large part to two Bloomington churches -- Mount Hope Lutheran Church and Lutheran Church of the Redemption -- which have offered classroom space for the new K-12 school.

During a meeting last week, interim board member Paul Hinz told a group of more than 100 stakeholders that they have done more in four months than most school communities are able to do in four or five years. He credited the success to "divine intervention."

"This has truly been the hand of God working," Hinz said.

The meeting was a crucial step in the process of opening a new school. Board members needed to gauge the support of the parents and other stakeholders before making further plans to open the school. "Do we or do we not move forward?" Hinz asked.

With a show of hands from people seated in pews at Lutheran Church of the Redemption, plans for the new school moved forward with unanimous support.

The arrangement enables the new school's financial resources to be used for faculty and staff rather than for lease payments, at least initially. Board members expect enrollment to total about 85 students. Staff from both Concordia Academy Bloomington and Mt. Hope-Redemption Lutheran School will be considered for positions at the new school.

Concordia announced in October that the Bloomington campus, which has about 105 students in grades 7-12, would close at the end of the year due to low enrollment numbers, years of budget shortfalls and fundraising problems in a poor economy. After a failed attempt to raise enough money to keep the campus open, supporters went to work on a plan to keep the students together in a school centered around the same Lutheran faith and values they'd come to know at Concordia.

There is still a lot of work to be done to get ready for next school year, organizers said. The interim school board took nominations for a permanent board that will be chosen in March. Several committees -- such as human resources, finance and academic excellence -- will be formed in the coming weeks. Concordia University in St. Paul also will partner with Lion's Gate Christian Academy and has agreed to place a staff member or graduate student on each of the committees. The college also offered the use of its athletic facilities for Lion's Gate athletic teams.

"You can't put a pricetag on that, especially when they come with master's degrees," Hinz said.

Another important decision was made at the meeting -- what to name the new school?

During a lively debate, one student put the decision into perspective.

"We don't really care what the name is," said 10th-grader Caleb Rollins, surrounded by about 20 of his classmates. "We just want to be together."

One parent who voted for Lion's Gate Christian Academy said the name was "bold" and "strong."

"We're stepping out with that kind of boldness of faith. It represents our vision really well," said Kathryn Jones, who is also a teacher at Mount Hope-Redemption. Jones said she and her fellow teachers hope to be a part of the new school, but understand there will undoubtedly have to be some changes and a lot will depend upon enrollment.

"Despite that, we're still excited to see that there can be a Lutheran Christian school here," she said. "Seeing the enthusiasm and energy of students, parents and people in the community has been exciting."

Students at the Concordia campus have had a trying year not knowing where they'd be enrolled in the fall.

"It's been tough," said sophomore Katey Fink. "The day after we found out the school was closing, kids were putting up Bible verses on the walls ... We all came together. None of us wants to leave Concordia, but it's exciting that we're going to have a new school."

Aimée Blanchette • 612-673-1715