NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — The future of a Newport News school is up in the air.
According to the Warwick River Christian School Board, Warwick River Christian School will cease operations at the end of the school year.
Three Mennonite churches make up the school council, Huntington Mennonite Church, Providence Mennonite Church and Warwick River Mennonite Church. In an email to parents, it said the board, the council and school administrative staff made the decision mid-April.
Parents said the Warwick River Christian school board chair sent them an email. In it, the chair said the school has faced several challenges over the last few years, including declining enrollment and keeping tuition affordable, and, despite their efforts to make things better, such as new initiatives in the classroom and a new marketing approach, the enrollment numbers and donations are not enough, and the financial gap has grown too large to stay open.
Now parents are scrambling, like Fred Kirkirt, who has two girls at the school.
“My kids look forward to going to that school every day, every Monday morning,” Kirkirt said.
Parents said after meeting with the school board last week and asking questions, they were given a dollar amount of $500,000 they would need to raise by June 1 to possibly keep the school open for at least another year.
Kristina Cisneros is also a Warwick River Christian School parent who is spearheading fundraising efforts. She said they're already knocking on doors, passing out flyers, reaching out to different organizations and even selling candy to raise money.
Cisneros said they have a car wash scheduled for later this month across the street from Patrick Henry Mall.There's also a GoFundMe set up.
Kirkirt said his two daughters took their piggy banks to school, hoping to save their school, and the principal wrote them back.
“I am proud, very proud,” Kirkirt said.
The Head of School Janna M. Outlaw said a parent liaison and the board chair are in conversation. Parents said the board chair plans to release a statement tomorrow.
The Warwick River Learning Center will remain open and will now include the current 4K program.