TRURO, N.S. – Colchester Christian Academy is going to be moving from Truro to Bible Hill and school principal Dr. Betty Johnson couldn’t be happier.
“It’s a great Christmas present,” she said, of Colchester County council’s decision to sell the former elementary school to the academy for $1.
“Over the moon exciting,” she said, of the prospect of moving to a larger facility within a residential area, complete with green space and a playground.
“Everybody is very excited, from the board of governors all the way on to the students.”
The East Court school was closed following construction of the new Bible Hill Consolidated school on Pictou Road.
After being declared redundant by the Chignecto-Central Regional School Board, ownership of the facility was turned over to the Municipality of Colchester, which put out a request for proposals of interest.
Mayor Christine Blair said the only proposal the municipality received was from the CCA.
“Both council and the neighbourhood are very pleased with the decision to maintain the building in a way that the neighbourhood was used to having it, as a school,” she said.
Blair added that a number of residents in the East Court area expressed satisfaction with council’s decision.
“They were very pleased that the school was going to be used as a school again,” she said.
The academy, in the People’s Church on Elm Street, has been in its existing location for almost 29 years. And while school officials appreciate the space that has been used for so long, Johnson said, they are also looking forward to moving into a new home.
“We perceived that we will be able to have more community involvement,” Johnson said.
The pre-Primary to Grade12 school has current enrolment of about 80 students but Johnson said officials are hoping to expand on that number once they are settled in.
No date has been set for the move, she said, because of the legalities and logistics involved with the change of ownership and all the other preparations that have to be made.
