SAVANNAH, GA, 3/8/23 – The Habersham School, a PreK3–12 Classical Christian private school with campuses in the Historic District and Ardsley Park, recently announced plans to unify their two campuses at 4700 Skidaway Road having signed an agreement to lease the facilities of the former Bible Baptist School from Bible Baptist Church.
“The Habersham School Board of Trustees has been actively searching and praying for a facility that would meet both current and future needs of the school and would allow us to accommodate the growth in enrollment that we anticipate over the next few years,” said Habersham Chairman of the Board, Dr. Byron Colley. “I want to personally thank the leadership of Bible Baptist Church for their diligence and gracious spirit throughout the negotiations. 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.”
Bible Baptist Church and The Habersham School will operate as independent organizations on a shared campus in a lessor-lessee relationship. “While we will operate as independent entities, I look forward to working cooperatively with Bible Baptist and their leadership to honor and support their ministry,” said Habersham’s new Head of School, Pat McCarty. “Our intent is to promote good stewardship and to maximize the Kingdom impact of the Bible Baptist campus.”
“Bible Baptist Church is glad to welcome The Habersham School to our campus this fall,” added Bible Baptist’s Senior Pastor, Kelly McInerny. “Our congregation is excited that our former school buildings will once again be fully utilized for the purpose they were built, and we look forward to this exciting partnership with The Habersham School as they continue to grow and expand their educational opportunities for families.”
Approximately two miles from Habersham’s current Gould Cottage Campus located in Ardsley Park, the new Skidaway Road location will allow the school to move all grades and operations onto the campus starting in Fall 2023. The lease will include access to 23 classrooms, a gymnasium, an auditorium, outdoor athletic facilities, playgrounds, office space, a cafeteria, a kitchen, a nurse’s clinic, and more.
“Bringing our two campuses together is only going to enhance our athletic program,” said Habersham Athletics Director, Susan Barry. “We’ve built some great teams and have claimed many GAPPS state titles throughout our short history all without having our own facilities. I’m so excited to see how we can further develop these programs with our own on-campus facilities.”
Founded in 2012, The Habersham School opened its doors at Grace Church of the Islands on Wilmington Island. In the winter of their first school year, the school acquired the historic Gould Cottage located at 505 E. 54th Street and moved all grades and operations onto the campus in the Fall of 2013. Having experienced further growth, the school was forced to find an alternative solution to house their Upper School at which point they developed a relationship with the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) to lease the historic Habersham Hall located at 235 Habersham Street where their Upper School has remained since. The school intends to sell the Gould Cottage and to end its lease agreement with SCAD.
“The seemingly endless impact that SCAD has made on Savannah and its residents is profoundly felt at The Habersham School,” said Dr. Colley. “More than just bricks and mortar, SCAD’s investment in Savannah has paid dividends well beyond the historic preservation and economic revitalization of Savannah’s Landmark Historic District. Its effects are far-reaching, touching the hearts and minds of Habersham students every single day. We cannot help but to acknowledge SCAD’s impact on our school in this historic moment.”
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