Building Updates

On June 25, 2024, we sent an update stating that our offer to purchase the Garfield Elementary building from Cedar Rapids Community School District was not accepted. In addition, we promised to keep you informed on new information as it became available. While the following details may not address all the concerns and questions that our community has, we pray that it will provide you with some clarity as we move forward.

Record enrollment numbers have shown us that many in our community desire to seek a Christian education at Isaac Newton Christ Academy. As a school, it is our desire to serve as many families as possible. Therefore, the Facilities Committee has been exploring both long-term and short-term solutions that will allow us to continue the mission of Developing Christlike Character and Academic Excellence in our students.

Short-term Solution:

• This summer we have divided the existing cafeteria into two spaces that can be used as temporary learning spaces while we search for a long-term solution. This means that students will be eating their lunches in classrooms with their homeroom teacher during this transition phase.

Long-term Solutions:

• Linking the school building and The Patriot Center: The Facilities Committee is exploring potential plans to design a building that will link the existing school building and The Patriot Center. The design focus is a larger kitchen, cafeteria, and music room, with room to grow if needed. This process is ongoing, as the Facilities Committee is working with a commercial design firm to develop conceptual designs for a connection building and to seek City of Cedar Rapids’ guidance for preliminary approvals to build. These preliminary approved concepts are expected to be completed sometime this fall. Once completed, they will be shared with our Capital Campaign Committee to begin fundraising efforts. The school leadership will be seeking Linn Christian Education Association’s (LCEA) input at any point once the concepts are complete.
   
• Seeking out additional properties: Simultaneously, we’ve engaged a commercial real estate agent to identify properties that may become available while we work through on-site expansion. Our hope is to find a way to expand on-site, unless God brings the right property forward for us to grow in.
   

We are committed to following the leading of the Lord  and our mission of “Developing Christlike Character and Academic Excellence” in every student that we serve. We will continue to provide additional updates as they become available.

If you have any questions or concerns, we encourage you to forward them to feedback@incaonline.org.

The Linn Christian Education Association (LCEA), the governing board of Isaac Newton Christian Academy, attended the Cedar Rapids Community School District (CRCSD) board meeting last night, June 24th, to present an offer to purchase the Garfield Elementary school building from CRCSD. Ultimately, the offer presented by Board President, Amy McDonald, was not accepted, and the CRCSD board has decided to move forward with another buyer. We appreciate your patience and prayers as we explored this opportunity. While this may be disheartening to some, we stand firm in our belief that God always remains faithful; and His plan for Isaac Newton Christian Academy will come to pass.

“Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.”
Deuteronomy 7:9

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11

The LCEA is committed to following the leading of the Lord and will continue to explore other solutions and opportunities which will allow us to achieve our mission of “Developing Christlike Character and Academic Excellence.” We will provide the Isaac Newton Christian Academy Community with updates and any other pertinent information as it becomes available. We appreciate your prayers for wisdom as we move forward.

Thank you for your continued support.

Contact Information:
Linn Christian Education Association
Amy McDonald – President
319-362-9512
board@incaonline.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Isaac Newton Christian Academy, a leader in quality Christian education for the Cedar Rapids area, in partnership with their governing Linn Christian Education Association (LCEA) Board of Directors would like to formally announce their interest in purchasing the former Garfield Elementary School.

“Our school has been an integral part of the Cedar Rapids community for over three decades, providing quality education rooted in Christian values,” said Amy McDonald, President of LCEA. “We believe that continuing to use the Garfield building as an educational institution would not only maintain its legacy but also serve the best interests of the community. Preserving educational facilities should be a priority,” added McDonald.
LCEA representatives will attend the Cedar Rapids Community School District Board Meeting and Public Hearing on June 24 to express their interest in purchasing this property. The school encourages community members who support its efforts to make their voices heard.

The LCEA Board has awaited the former Garfield Elementary property to be listed for sale. LCEA is confident that using the building for its intended educational purpose will allow the Cedar Rapids School District to maximize the resale value with a fiscally responsible competitive bid, exceeding the current significantly undervalued sale price.
"Education is the foundation of a strong and vibrant community," said John Garbes, Vice President of LCEA. "By working together, we can ensure that this valuable asset continues to serve its intended purpose and benefit generations of students to come.”

About Isaac Newton Christian Academy
Isaac Newton Christian Academy was started in 1989 in the former Adams Elementary School. The LCEA purchased the building from the Cedar Rapids Community School Board, as it was no longer being used by the public school district. Isaac Newton began as an elementary school, and in 2016, the high school was added.

Isaac Newton Christian Academy is accredited by the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). First accredited in 2013, the school was unanimously approved by the ACSI Regional Accreditation Commission for a full 5-year renewal of accreditation again in 2019. This accreditation establishes Isaac Newton Christian Academy as an educational institution which meets the high standards necessary for quality education in an authentic Christian setting.

As the school has grown, a number of facility expansion projects have been done, most notably the expansion of the original Adams Elementary building in 2000, the addition of The Patriot Center (gymnasium) in 2015, and a significant renovation in 2017.

Linn Christian Education Association Board of Directors, Dba Isaac Newton Christian Academy