Community Christian School has big plans for its future.
The school, which celebrated its 30th anniversary in April, is housed in the basement of First Evangelical Free Church, 3058 10th Ave. N. The school has also been sponsored by the church, although CCS students represent 25 congregations from several area communities.
Bruce Walrod, CCS development chairman, announced the school's plans for the coming years to a crowd of about 200 supporters of the school at its 17th annual fall banquet at the Best Western Starlite Village Tuesday.
Those plans include becoming an independent Christian school separate from the First Evangelical Free Church.
Walrod said the CCS board of directors will conduct a feasibility study to see if it is possible for the school to relocate, in addition to launching a fundraising campaign for a building fund.
"The financial magnitude of this project is huge," Walrod said.
Following dinner and a welcome from Kristi Ellis, the new administrator at CCS, keynote speaker, Dr. Bob Stouffer, superintendent of Des Moines Christian School spoke on the values of a Christian education.
In his speech, titled "Christian Education Will Prevail," Stouffer, a former principal for the Urbandale Community Schools, touched on the relationship he encourages public and religious schools to have.
"They do public education, while we are in a Christ-centered school," he said. "But the public and Christian schools should work together to support each other. Nurture your relationship with the public schools."
Stouffer also highlighted the views of Christian education and why, although smaller schools, Christian schools provide a quality experience to their students and have a strong sense of community.
"Bigger is not always better," Stouffer said. "We're involved schools with a sense of community. We help students discover their own unique callings."
Stouffer also commended CCS for providing years of quality education with Christian values to its students.
"Christian education in Iowa will prevail," he said. "Thirty years makes you a very well-established school."
Contact Emilie Nelson at (515) 573-2141 or enelson@messengernews.net