New Campus. Same Mission. One Habersham.
COMING FALL 2023
Habersham is on the move! Read below to learn more about our future plans!
New Unified Skidaway Road Campus
Habersham’s Board of Trustees and Executive Leadership Team are excited to announce that The Habersham School has entered into a long-term lease agreement with Bible Baptist Church. Located on Skidaway Road, approximately two miles from our current Gould Cottage Campus, this spacious and recently renovated facility will allow us to move all grades and operations onto the campus starting in Fall 2023.
Our new Skidaway Road Campus, originally designed by Bible Baptist Church to accommodate a PreK-12th grade school, includes access to 23 classrooms, 6 offices, a cafeteria, a kitchen, and a nurse’s clinic. Additionally, we will enjoy having a gymnasium on campus, as well as outdoor athletic facilities, outdoor playgrounds, and ample parking. For special events like Opening Ceremonies and Graduation, we will have access to a 650-seat auditorium.
Top 5 Reasons for the Move
Unified Campus
Our House System, one of the distinctives of The Habersham School, provides many opportunities for older students to mentor and encourage younger students. Having all grades on one campus will allow us to expand those mentoring opportunities, build healthy relationships between students, and promote school and community spirit.
Enhanced Security
The entire campus is enclosed by a fence with limited access points that are easily monitored and controlled. Both interior and exterior security cameras will monitor campus activities.
On-Campus PE/Athletic Facilities
Having our own gym will enhance our physical education program, lessen our reliance on renting other facilities, and reduce the inconvenience, stress, and costs associated with renting multiple off-site facilities.
Convenient Location with Room to Grow
Our centrally located campus will allow us to experience healthy growth without having to build new facilities. Our current facilities significantly limit our ability to grow our enrollment, which is necessary for financial sustainability and program expansion. In fact, we do not have the option to expand the Gould Cottage Campus and our lease with SCAD for Habersham Hall expires at the end of the current year with no option for renewal.
Cost Savings
Building a new school on adequate acreage with all the amenities of the Skidaway Road Campus would cost tens of millions of dollars. This cost would have to be raised or passed on to our families. Therefore, this option is good stewardship.
I want to personally thank the leadership of Bible Baptist Church, specifically Pastor Kelly McInerney, Pastor Michael Finley, and Deacon Stacey Russell, for their diligence and gracious spirit in consummating this long-term agreement. Both the church and school entered these discussions with a desire to create a partnership that would maximize the stewardship and Kingdom impact of such an agreement and bring glory to God alone. Throughout the negotiations, it was clear that the Holy Spirit was present and guided us to this conclusion. Praise be to God for this abundant blessing.
FAQs
One unified campus with the requisite amenities has always been our goal. As gracious as SCAD has been to us throughout the years, the use of Habersham Hall was a temporary arrangement. Subsequently, SCAD informed us that they intend to use Habersham Hall for other purposes starting next academic year. Additionally, expansion at the Gould Cottage Campus is not an option per city code. Furthermore, staying in Gould Cottage would require the School to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars to replace the roof, HVAC systems, and other deferred maintenance costs that an older building will require over the next few years.
The relationship will be a lessor–lessee relationship, with both ministries independent of one another. However, both the Church and School will work cooperatively to honor and support their respective ministries, to promote good stewardship, and to maximize the Kingdom impact of the beautiful BBC campus.
The Church is in the process of renovating the classrooms in Building B, where the School will hold classes. Already, a new HVAC system has been installed, along with new flooring and painting. The School will be branding the facilities through painting, decorating, and installing our own external signage to identify the School. The School would be responsible for providing a cooling system for the gymnasium and renovating locker rooms for school use.
Besides being safer and more secure, a larger campus with a gymnasium, fully-equipped playground, ample greenspace and shade trees will enhance their recess and P.E. time. The kitchen and cafeteria will allow us more options for lunch.
We intend to sell Gould Cottage, which will allow us to retire all the debt currently owed by the School and strengthen our financial condition. Additionally, the renovations completed this past summer will greatly increase the resale value.
The initial lease is for five years, with an option to extend the lease in future years.
In addition to the gymnasium, the School will be able to use the football/soccer field, as well as practice baseball field. The large campus will also accommodate cross country training.
Parents who have children in multiple divisions will benefit from the convenience of one location. No longer will they have to drop off and pick up on two separate campuses. With ample parking and designated entrance and exit gates, drop-off and pick-up lines will be expedited. Many athletic and all-school events will take place on our own campus, reducing the need to travel to other venues.
New Campus. Same Mission. One Habersham.
COMING FALL 2023
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