By Staff
NEW SCHOOL Annette James, left, administrative assistant to the principal of the new Russell Christian Academy, and Carol Davidson, the school's principal, plan for the upcoming school year. The new school, located at Russell Baptist Church, will open August 9. Photo by Anna Wright / The Meridian Star.
By Georgia E. Frye / staff writer
April 17, 2004
Russell Baptist Church pastor Clay Chancelor said this week that he is excited about the new school that will open at his church in August.
Chancelor said he believes there should be an alternative to secular education.
The Russell Christian Academy will open its doors to students on August 9. Carol Davidson will serve as the school's principal.
Davidson retired from the Meridian Public School District after more than 34 years of service; 17 of those years were spent as principal of Crestwood Elementary School. She also has served as principal of Calvary Christian School and has worked as a consultant for Mississippi State University.
Davidson, who has been a member of Russell Baptist Church for 15 years, said church members have been interested in a Christian school for as long as she can remember.
Davidson did not say how many students have enrolled in the academy, but she said the school could accommodate up to about 250 students in kindergarten through the 12th grade. She also said prospective teachers have been interviewed but none have been hired.
The academy's curriculum is based on the A Beka Book, an affiliate of Pensacola Christian College, that is dedicated to providing quality education from a Christian perspective. The school's curriculum also will be college preparatory.
In addition to regular course work, students will study the Bible for 30 minutes each day and they will have chapel once a week. Davidson said the school's discipline policy also is based on a Pensacola, Fla. model called "Shepherding a Child's Heart."
Annette James will serve as Davidson's administrative assistant, and Chancelor chose five school board members from the church's congregation to oversee the academy.
Registration for the academy is $175 per student if they register before the May 20 deadline, and $225 after the deadline. Davidson said they will accept students through the first day of school.
Fees for the school are $175 per month for kindergarten; $250 per month for grades 1-8; and $275 per month for grades 9-12.
For more information about the Russell Christian Academy, call 484-5888.