The Oaks moves to a new home

Another Christian school is moving into the space once occupied by a longtime Spokane Valley private school.

The Oaks Classical Christian Academy entered into a short-term lease agreement with Valley Fourth Memorial Church for the building that once housed Valley Christian School, authorities with the church and the school announced this week.

The Oaks will use the space adjacent to the church on South Bowdish Road for a maximum of three years while the school’s permanent campus is under construction off Glenrose Road in south Spokane.

“This lease greatly assists us in completing our capital campaign and implementing the construction of our new facility,” said Jeff Gibson, The Oaks board president in a press release.

The school was previously located at Glad Tidings Assembly of God Church, 4224 E. Fourth Ave. Because of growth, the school could no longer be housed there, school officials said.

The Oaks was founded in 1996 with 33 students in grades kindergarten through 6. Since then, enrollment has grown to about 270 students in grades kindergarten through 12.

“There is no longer adequate space for both the church and the school,” Gibson said in the release. “This new facility solves the problem for everyone.”

Valley Fourth Memorial Church terminated the lease agreement with Valley Christian School in 2005, amid a state investigation involving the school’s former head administrator, Wes Evans, who was later cleared of any wrongdoing by the state.

The Central Valley School District agreed to lease space at the old University High School to Valley Christian, while the school works on its own capital campaign to finance a new school.

The school, which has 300 students, had been housed in the Valley Fourth Memorial building for more than 30 years, and once operated as a mission of the church. The two split in 2002.

“We are glad to see Valley Fourth come alongside The Oaks in their time of need,” said Jeff Smith, VCS school board chairman, in the release.

The Oaks and Valley Fourth Memorial will also operate independently of each other.

Sara Leaming can be reached at (509) 459-5533, or by e-mail at sarale@spokesman.com.