Cornerstone Christian Academy to continue operation

The debate, which seemed like ages to friends and family of Cornerstone Christian Academy (CCA) finally seemed to have resolved as the organization will continue to operate as an accredited funded private school with classes resuming the first week of Sept.

CCA was issued a letter in June 2017 by the Battle River School Division (BRSD), which it was a part of stating it would no longer operate CCA after June of this year. Located in Kingman, about 27 kilometres north of Camrose, the school has operated as an alternative program under the Battle River division since 2009.

“BRSD’s decision last June to stop operating the alternative faith based program at Cornerstone had no valid justification,” said Board Chair Deanne Margel. “Despite all the misdirection put forth in the media, the reason for BRSD’s decision to close the school was ideologically driven.”

Margel further added that the decision was not about any failure to educate the students, the school’s ability to serve the community, or any other measurable metric that would justify such a drastic action.

An aerial view of the Cornerstone Christian Academy in Kingman, which will now operate as an accredited private funded school. SUBMITTED PHOTO

“CCA has not changed; the school adheres to the same religious beliefs as it did both in 2009 when the school joined the public school division, the same beliefs it has held since first being incorporated in 1986,” Margel explained. “Since its inception, the school has also been at all times 100 per cent compliant with Alberta legislation and the requirements of the Alberta School Act.”

In order to keep the school running, Margel and her team had to work “diligently” when the forms became available in February and complete the application, a 80-page document.

“We had to submit it to Alberta Education’s School Accreditation & Standards Department by the March 15 deadline,” Margel added.

They were interviewed by representatives from Alberta Education on June 12, followed by several inspections.

“The Camrose Fire Department and Alberta Health Services were very helpful in quickly responding to this need,” Margel said. “The submission of yet more paperwork was then necessary, and finally on July 20 the school received notification that the application had been approved, and Cornerstone would be permitted to continue to operate as an accredited school for the 2018-19 school year.”