In the space of one week, Calexico Mission School and San Diego Academy celebrated rebuilding their facilities with ribbon-cutting and grand-opening ceremonies.

“This is quite historic. It has been more than 20 years since an academy complex was completed,” commented Charles McKinstry, former superintendent of schools in the Southeastern California Conference, now director of property and trust services.

Don Dudley, current superintendent of schools, points out that school enrollments declined during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Additions or new buildings were put off and a recession depressed the economy. “Today our enrollments have stabilized and some schools are growing fast.”

San Diego Academy

San Diego Academy held its official opening on Sunday, Aug. 21. Principal Wayne Longhofer orchestrated the event.

For more than 10 years, academy principals, conference leaders and administrators of Paradise Valley Hospital dickered on a land-exchange. The successful negotiations have resulted in a handsome school, situated a few hundred yards to the east of its original site. The two-story, 50,000 square-foot facility includes classrooms, administrative offices, a resource center, music room, dining area and spacious gymnasium.

Calexico

Calexico celebrated the completion of its 17,000 square-foot elementary school on Aug. 25 with Principal Susan Smith presiding and the mayor of Calexico attending. The facility houses 10 classrooms, teachers’ offices, restrooms and a commercial kitchen. The high school complex was completed in 2003.

Maranatha Volunteers International played a key role in the project. Don Noble, president, presented the school with a $500,000 check, fulfilling a long-time pledge by an anonymous donor. More donations are still needed to pay loans: $637,000 for the elementary school and $193,000 for the high school.