The Christian Academy of the Cumberlands announces the opening of their new building will be on Aug. 22 at 9 a.m.
Principal Linda Dunaway said approximately 70 students are attending the CAC this 2024-25 school year. Five full-time and two part-time teachers will teach in the high school building.
“I want every student that comes through these doors to experience the love of Christ,” said Dunaway.
“We wanted a place where we can instill a Christian and biblical foundation for our students,” said Kraus.
The new building idea sprung from wanting to offer the high school students more.
“It wasn’t a real experience for them [the high school students],” said Jon Kraus, school board president of the CAC. “So, we fundraised like crazy for the last six or seven years to make this facility a reality.”
The new building is a seven-year plan in the making. The academy held auctions and golf tournaments alternatively every year to raise approximately $250,000 for the new high school building and renovations.
Dunaway said she wanted this new expansion to offer the students more opportunities.
“We want a high school that is more like a traditional high school that offers our kids more academically and, also, more extracurricular activities than what we’ve been able to offer at the other campus,” said Dunaway. “We’ve always been limited in what we can do. Now, as we grow, we can add to the program every year. It’s exciting.”
The academy will now have two buildings: one for the main campus that holds their preschool and kindergarteners through sixth graders, and the new building for seventh through 12th graders.
The academy bought the building from a local church called Faith, Hope and Love. CAC purchased the building in May 2021 and started renovation immediately.
“It was a big leap of faith to buy and to renovate this school with the limited resources that we have,” said Kraus.
Kraus said Faith, Hope and Love ministries church used to allow CAC to use their gym for events and ball games.
CAC has been on the main campus at 325 Braun St. since 2011, but they formed the academy in 2006.
“We’re excited,” said Dunaway. “They’re excited. They’ve never had so much space before. They’ve never had their own ‘big locker’ before. That’s a big deal to a junior high or high school student.”
Dunaway said she is excited for growth at the academy. She said she wants to see more advanced math and science classes, as well as more extracurricular activities and clubs for the students.
With this new building, there is a second level with four more classrooms to allow for growth in the future.
“We just thank God for really this opportunity [and] this property,” said Kraus. “We’re really really excited about what God has in store for Christian Academy and for our students.”
The ribbon cutting for the event will be in front of the new building at 286 Hayes St. in Crossville, TN. The first day of school for all CAC students is on Aug. 26.
For more information, visit www.cacknights.com/.