Jim McIntosh was called to be the school’s
first administrator and he continued with the school for four
year. During this time the school met in the church building.
During the school year of 1985 the curriculum was changed
from A.C.E. to a standard curriculum of A Beka.
In July of 1987, Wilma Angel replaced Jim
McIntosh as principal of the school. Due to the overwhelming
amount of church growth, Wilma Angel was needed to return
to the church office as church secretary.
In June of 1988, Lisa Lay replaced Wilma Angel
and served as the principal for one year. She returned to
the classroom when Lane Farley was hired in 1989 as an associate
pastor and principal of the school. Lane Farley remained principal
for two school years. At this time, the school’s enrollment
was 65 students. During this year, Shirley Schoonover began
our Day Care/Pre-School program in the fellowship hall of
our church.
In June of 1991, Tara Bates replaced Lane
Farley and Shirley Schoonover and remains with the school
and Day Care to this day. With enrollment growing from 65
students in 1989 to 110 students in 1992, God impressed upon
the leadership of Community Pentecostal Church to press forward
and build an educational facility. This facility would help
meet the needs of the school’s growing enrollment and
would meet the needs of other church-related ministries. The
new facility included seven classrooms, two offices, and a
full-size gymnasium called the Family Life Center. Most of
the students and faculty moved into the educational wing during
the 1993 school year. At this point, the school had grown
to 130 students and the church still housed several classrooms
for students. Curriculum changes were made to include: Bob
Jones, McMillian McGraw Hill, Positive Action for Christ,
A Beka, and D.C. Heath.
As growth and development of C.C.A. continued
to 197 during the 1998/99 school year, further development
of the gymnasium was begun. During the school year of 1999/2000,
the gymnasium was completed and C.C.A. was able to use a facility
that was totally paid off at completion. The gymnasium houses
one full-regulation court, two junior high courts, stage,
walking/running track, snack and food center, and boys and
girls locker/restrooms.
In July of 1999, strides were made to complete
an accreditation process through the International Christian
Accrediting Association as well as joining the Oral Roberts
University Educational Fellowship. We were accepted as a Candidate
for Accreditation. C.C.A. is now accredited through ICAA,
ORUEF, and the Non-Public School Commission of Kentucky.
May of 2000 brought exciting development to
Community Pentecostal Church in that 65 acres of land were
purchased for further development of our facilities. Our next
building project was the Tara Center, an 18,000 square feet
adult-learning center. The elaborate three-story, southern-style
complex is named after the pastor’s wife and present
principal, Tara Bates. The 1.5 million-dollar facility was
completed on February 2, 2004, debt-free! It is utilized by
the school as well as the church with seven new classrooms
and an area for chapels.
During the school year of 2000/2001, C.C.A.
served the families of Community Pentecostal Church with 44%
of the students coming from the church body. Classes filled
to the point that prospective students were put on a waiting
list in grades two through twelve.
Independence, Kentucky is a rural/residential
area within the tri-state of Cincinnati, Ohio. There are other
Christian schools within a fifteen-mile radius, but very little
competition exists between them. Basically, there are not
enough Christian schools to accommodate the need.
As growth and development of C.C.A. continues,
the aim is to combine the staff, the curriculum, the students
and their parents to shape a person who will be well equipped
to not only continue the educational process throughout life,
but to also diligently serve God.