SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. (BNc)- The Fairlane congregation’s elders announced last week that they will close Fairlane Christian School.
The Fairlane elders distributed a statement last Thursday as parents picked up their children from school that the school would close Aug. 29.
The child-care program operated by the congregation offered care during the school year for preschoolers, as well as after-school or summer programs for children up to 12 years.
“The Elders at Fairlane Church of Christ announce the closing of Fairlane Christian School,” an article in the Shelbyville Times quoted the statement as saying. “The operations of the school will be closing at the end of August, but consideration will be given to the ability of the parents to place their children in other programs. … For a variety of reasons, the school has had increasing difficulty in accomplishing its original mission over the last several years.”
The church’s website mentions the school began in 1980 “as a non-profit organization in response to a need the Elders saw for day care [sic] in a Christian environment for children of working mothers.”
The school is licensed to care for 81 children and the program currently enrolls about 70.
On the newspaper’s website, several parents expressed concern at being given only a month to arrange new schools for their children.
Thursday afternoon, Aug. 7, the Fairlane elders sent to BNc a statement for the press:
“It has been with much thought, consideration and prayer that this decision was reached. The quality of care and education we have provided is very important to us. For a variety of reasons, the school has had increasing difficulty in maintaining a director, staff, and accomplishing its original mission over last several years.
“Like most all mission efforts there is a beginning and an end. Sadly this one must come to an end also. We sincerely regret any inconvenience that this decision might have caused anyone. We will work with parents of existing students as they find suitable arrangements for their precious children.”
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