The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Local News

March 31, 2009

The Academy at Mountain State University to stay open

Fred Pace

The Academy at Mountain State University had 130 days to raise $150,000 or the school would not be able to open for the 2009-10 school year.

“We did it,” Dr. Jill Hopkins, dean of the academy, told parents Tuesday at a celebration event at the school’s cafeteria. “We have raised the $150,000 to keep the school open.”

Hopkins said in previous years the private, grades 6-12, middle and high school relied on funding from Mountain State University.

“This year they told us we could still have the school and all the other support from the university, but we needed make it on our own financially,” Hopkins said.

Hopkins said there were some significant donations, but it was mostly parental support that kept the school open.

“We had many donors from across the board, but the parents were the key,” she said.

The school had its highest enrollment ever this year.

“We enrolled students this year,” Hopkins said.

Hopkins said the school is young and fundraising is needed to support the school.

“Hopefully, in time, we’ll be able to have enough students to manage our own budget, but that’s a few years down the road,” she said.

A fundraising committee is being formed to address the school’s funding issues, Hopkins added.

Stuart and Ashley Bornett of Beckley have a daughter, Baylei, in the sixth grade at the school.

“I gave a lot of money I didn’t have for this school to remain open, but it was worth every penny,” Stuart Bornett said. “It’s a great school that offers a tremendous education and you can’t put a price tag on it.”

Ron Crosier has two daughters, Veronica and Brittni, attending the private school.

“The school has really made a difference in my children,” Crosier said. “My oldest daughter is graduating this year, and this school has really prepared my daughter for college. I am very supportive of this school and I’m very happy that it will remain open.”

— E-mail:

fpace@register-herald.com



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