Expanding in Excellence
Feasibility Study Results
In October Tree of Life sent out a Feasibility Study Questionnaire to a large group of constituents. The Timothy Group also did a pre-campaign study using the results from that questionnaire. You can see the Timothy Group's findings in their report here: Pre-Campaign Study Report Executive Summary
More survey results are available in this PowerPoint: Feasibility Study Presentation
December 2008
A Case Study for Expanding In Excellence
For more than thirty years, Tree of Life Christian Schools has been a school where students can grow in Jesus Christ. Within its robust academic setting God’s Word and His presence are woven into every aspect of school life. The resulting tapestry reveals rich dimensions, where thousands of students from preschool through high school have been educated in His truth and discipled to walk in His ways.
Today’s youth are assaulted by forces advocating the absence of absolutes and the pursuit of folly. Culturally our children are encouraged to model themselves after adults pursuing shallow and meaningless lives. Tree of Life Christian Schools exists to offer hope in these desperate times. Absolute truth is found in the person of Jesus Christ. He is the ultimate reality for all we believe. The foundational truths found in His Word and in His creation are paramount to all that is taught at Tree of Life. Of equal importance, these truths are modeled by men and women who exemplify abundant life in Christ. In the midst of a culture that has lost its moorings, young people experience truth and life in this place. Jesus once admonished his disciples to permit the children to come to me. We are a school where children can come to Jesus for integrated truth and eternal value.
We are committed to reflect God’s love, uphold His truth, and pursue excellence in all we do. Excellence. These have always been the standards for the high quality faculty and staff who teach and disciple our students. They are the benchmarks for the strong academic program that characterizes our school.
We now see a unique opportunity to pursue excellence through a new location and new facilities for Tree of Life Christian Schools. Since the school’s inception in 1978, our elementary programs have used the educational wings of one or more of our sponsoring churches. For all of these years, as good stewards of their facilities, the churches have graciously shared their space with us with no rental cost to the school. Today, our elementary program resides in 3 different churches. Our middle and high school programs occupy a former public school building.
We believe that God is calling us to unite our school on one campus. This vision begins with purchasing land and constructing a new facility for our entire elementary program. With a passion to continue serving in the greater Columbus area, we believe that having our elementary program in a single new location will enhance our commitment to excellence by providing:
- learning spaces better designed for education
- dedicated spaces to meet the needs for library, art, music, gym, computer lab, cafeteria,playground and administration.
- opportunities for teachers to work together both at and across grade levels, challenging each other to excellence and creativity
- an enhanced sense of “family” with elementary parents, students and faculty sharing a common location.
- new and improved recreational features with opportunities for regulation ball fields and more comprehensive gymnasium and fitness spaces.
- better energy efficiencies and opportunities to use latest technologies to reduce operational costs.
- safer environments including better control of visitors to the site and buildings.
- facilities with healthy light, air quality, and water components, free from potential environmental hazards.
- facilities that meet the latest criteria for handicapped accessibility.
- better opportunities for food services within the facilities
- reduction of transportation requirements for internal operations.
By God’s grace, our upcoming capital campaign will be Phase I of a two-phased strategic plan.
- Phase I will begin in early 2009, raising $12-15 million for:
- The purchase of 20-40 acres of land
- The construction of an elementary school facility
- Athletic fields and a gymnasium that will also serve our middle and high school athletic program
Phase II will involve the construction of a new middle/high school building, with a much needed performing arts center and additional athletic facilities. At this point, our entire school will be housed on one campus! The total anticipated costs would be $25-30 million. The Lord’s provision through his people will determine whether the 2 phases can be combined into one project (Ephesians 3:20).
Our physical facilities, like the weaver’s looms, provide necessary structures on which fabric can be woven. Students and staff are the threads that make up the Tree of Life tapestry. Our students reflect the diverse body of Christ in the Columbus area, representing over 125 different churches, from varying ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds. The lives of our faculty and staff members intertwine with the lives of the students they teach, reflecting God’s love to them, encouraging them toward His likeness, and challenging our students to use their minds and hearts to understand and engage our world for Christ.
We are eager to build on the rich heritage that Tree of Life has enjoyed. We reached a milestone this past June—the son of one of our 1986 graduates was graduated with this year’s class. For two generations we have known the joy of providing a school where Jesus Christ is experienced. For two generations, countless parents, staff members, churches, friends, alumni and even students have invested financially in this ministry. At this pivotal time in the school’s history, we invite you to join us in sustaining excellence for the generations yet to come.
Only the Lord truly knows what the future holds for Tree of Life Christian Schools. For 30 years, He has shown us how to dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Even now, as we expand in excellence, we will delight in Him and commit our ways to Him, knowing that He will continue to give us the desires of our heart.
September 2008
Tree of Life Christian Schools
935 Northridge Rd.
Columbus, OH 43214