Rezoning won't close campus

A plan by Augusta Christian Schools to expand its Baston Road facility to Phillips Drive won't immediately change its Furys Ferry Road campus.

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Headmaster Joel Woodcock said the school has no immediate plans to close the facility of its elementary school.

"We have every intention of staying there unless God closes the door on that," he said. "We're planning on staying there unless we can't afford it."

The headmaster said the school is trying to raise money to complete the purchase of the Furys Ferry Road campus.

Woodcock said the school's finances are tied to enrollment, but administrators will not have a clear picture of next year's student population until classes begin.

He acknowledged that the school, which has 620 students in grades kindergarten through 12, has lost enrollment in the past three years. He attributed the decline to the economy, home schooling and "other small schools springing up."

Woodcock said the school plans to expand its elementary program by offering prekindergarten for 4-year-olds next year.

The school houses its middle- and high-school grades on Baston Road, which is adjacent to the Phillips Drive property.

Woodcock said Augusta Christian bought the Phillips Drive property in 2004, but the school cannot use it because it is zoned residential.

"We own it, but it's just sitting there," he said.

The Columbia County Commission approved Augusta Christian's request to rezone the 1.5-acre property at its Feb. 5 meeting. The planning commission had made a recommendation to approve the rezoning in January.

Woodcock said school officials would like to put five portable classrooms on the property. He said one of two structures on the property was demolished, but the school could use the remaining home as a maintenance office.

Woodcock also said plans include the addition of a playground for sixth-graders and construction of a road to connect the field house parking lot to Phillips Drive.