Terre Haute school to close

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - A local school is closing its doors after more than 30 years in the community. The Community Christian School does not plan to continue after this school year.
    
It’s the end of the school day and students file out with bags on backs and back packs in hand. For these students at the Community Christian School in Terre Haute it's another Monday.

"We have been here for 36 years. We have pre-school, we have pre-K, kindergarten through 5th grade,” principal Cathi Myers said.
   
For 13 years Myers has been the principal of the school’s classrooms. At one point she says more 100 students sat in their desks.
    
But in recent years the tuition has waned at the school, down to 42 students this year; and it's made it difficult to stay open.

"Every year we have to make cuts so that we can continue to work and continue to stay open, but we are at a place now where that can’t happen,” Myers explained.
    
Cutbacks across the area for jobs and funds have made it difficult for folks to contribute to the school, let alone send their children there. Same for the Maplewood Christian Church that houses the school.

This year the church told the school it could no longer house them rent-free. The school said they don’t have enough reserves to keep the building open.
    
Myers said the school costs are beyond fundraising. As far as raising the enrollment through Indiana's highly touted voucher program…

"If you want to be part of the voucher program, the state of Indiana has certain bodies you must be a member of, and we are not a member of any of the specific bodies,” she said.
    
That left the school with one choice. Last week the school board voted to close the doors permanently.

"We've had a lot of tears, a lot of hugs, lots of 'what am I going to do with my child?' and we tell them we are right there with them trying to figure out what's next,” Myers said sadly.
   
Come summer time their 42 students and 13 staff members will be elsewhere and the Community Christian School will be dismissed for good.