As we get closer to the fall, we move into a busy time for schools. Along with the preparation for the first day of class, please be aware that there are some school business matters which will come up as well.
The next school board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 2nd. We have been meeting at the 56th street location, but with the progress on the building, we may decide to meet at the new location on that date. Watch both this blog, the OCA web site, and Sycamore Education for more information as we near that date.
Shortly after the board meeting, the fall OCA Association meeting will be held, tentatively scheduled for September 16. More details will follow on that as well. The fall meeting is important as we kick off the school year, review our current financial position, and conduct the business of the organization.
Last fall we selected a nominating committee during the fall meeting. The nominating committee worked to find individuals who were willing to serve as school board members. I think that worked out very well, and I plan to do that again this fall. If you have interest in either being on the nominating committee, or serving on the board, you can either let me know, or contact the school office.
There is never a shortage of things to do. If you have a passion for something about OCA, and I hope that you all do, let a board member or the office know. We would love to get you involved.
Thank you,
Keith
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Thursday, July 24, 2008
What is next
With the painting is coming along very nicely, thanks to a generous donation of labor by a parent. We are ready to install the grid work for the suspended ceiling. That grid work will allow for the completion of a couple things, including installation of overhead lights in each room, and the vents for the heating and air system.
For the new construction, we are currently expected to dig for the footings on August 6. After that, there should be a rush of activity at the building including concrete and steel work to finish the outer shell of the building. During this time, we all need to pray for great weather to facilitate a speedy construction project.
While it is still too early to schedule our move to this building, the interior work on this renovation is nearly finished. One event is tentatively scheduled in the new space already. OCA will host an ACSI meeting with other area schools in September. We hope and plan for that event to be in the new building.
ACSI is short for the Association of Christian Schools International, and is one of our accrediting bodies. Along with accreditation by the State of Nebraska, we meet the standards of the ACSI. This dual accreditation is unique for area schools. Read more about ACSI at http://www.acsi.org/. There are some great articles here which always remind me of how important our mission is.
I added some new pictures, including some of the volunteer team installing computer cable. This cable, donated by CommScope, Inc. will provide both data and phone service to each room. In addition to the cable, we will include some wireless access points. This will allow controlled access to the Internet for authorized users anywhere on our property.
For the new construction, we are currently expected to dig for the footings on August 6. After that, there should be a rush of activity at the building including concrete and steel work to finish the outer shell of the building. During this time, we all need to pray for great weather to facilitate a speedy construction project.
While it is still too early to schedule our move to this building, the interior work on this renovation is nearly finished. One event is tentatively scheduled in the new space already. OCA will host an ACSI meeting with other area schools in September. We hope and plan for that event to be in the new building.
ACSI is short for the Association of Christian Schools International, and is one of our accrediting bodies. Along with accreditation by the State of Nebraska, we meet the standards of the ACSI. This dual accreditation is unique for area schools. Read more about ACSI at http://www.acsi.org/. There are some great articles here which always remind me of how important our mission is.
I added some new pictures, including some of the volunteer team installing computer cable. This cable, donated by CommScope, Inc. will provide both data and phone service to each room. In addition to the cable, we will include some wireless access points. This will allow controlled access to the Internet for authorized users anywhere on our property.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
A few comments
First thanks for checking in for updates. Sorry that it has been so long. I know people drive by the property from time to time. So in case you wonder what happened to the parking lot on the west, a contractor with a big crane accidentally did some damage. I think it was just a combination of the wetter than usual weather, along with heavy equipment and a parking lot designed for cars. The contractor is aware of the damage, and will be making repairs, or compensating the school.
Also, some of you may have noticed a school bus parked on the lot. That bus is there by permission. It is being used by a detasseling crew operating out of Omaha. There are a number of OCA students on the crew, and we agreed to let them use the lot overnight. Checkout the detasseling company at www.notafraidtosweat.com. My wife and younger daughter are both involved, and it has been a good company to work with. If you want to enjoy the warm summer weather and earn some money too, keep them in mind for next summer!
The lot on the east is now level and ready for footings. There was a design and plan problem which needed to be resolved. That has delayed us for a little while, but footings and construction should start up soon. Pray for good construction weather!
The interior is being painted, and next week we should see the installation of some ceiling work. Then the renovation will be almost finished! What a joy to see the efforts of so many come together for this great project.
Stop back again!
Keith
Also, some of you may have noticed a school bus parked on the lot. That bus is there by permission. It is being used by a detasseling crew operating out of Omaha. There are a number of OCA students on the crew, and we agreed to let them use the lot overnight. Checkout the detasseling company at www.notafraidtosweat.com. My wife and younger daughter are both involved, and it has been a good company to work with. If you want to enjoy the warm summer weather and earn some money too, keep them in mind for next summer!
The lot on the east is now level and ready for footings. There was a design and plan problem which needed to be resolved. That has delayed us for a little while, but footings and construction should start up soon. Pray for good construction weather!
The interior is being painted, and next week we should see the installation of some ceiling work. Then the renovation will be almost finished! What a joy to see the efforts of so many come together for this great project.
Stop back again!
Keith
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Progress report
There are probably three important things to note about our progress.
1. We have now received the final building permits which will allow completion of the entire school facility. Paula reported to me this week that the city granted the permit which allows for the construction of the interior walls in the high school building. Praise the Lord!
2. Last Thursday, we signed our construction loan with Security National bank. This loan is needed to construct the new space for the cafeteria and high school building.
3. After a visit to the building on Friday night, it is a pleasure to report progress there. Fager Excavating has been working with the needed dirt work on the east side of the property. They will be hauling dirt in soon. Inside, the drywall work is coming very nicely, and I can also report that there are some walls where primer has been applied. That really makes things look like finished space.
Paula tells me that the walls will be painted over the next week or so, and that the ceiling tile work will begin after that. As I looked around the building, I could see Heating and Air work going on. The construction plans call for completion of all all except the flooring within really the next two or three weeks. Flooring will be left for a while, as there will be a lot of dirt from the new construction which will get tracked into the existing building.
This is a key time for us to continue to raise funds for this project. While we have a construction plan funded, any added amounts raised will help with a few key things. These needs include upgrading some floor coverings, and updating furniture in some key areas. Also, anything more we can raise in cash now would allow us to go into our permanent financing after construction with lower debt. Lower debt would lower operating costs, and be a great help over the next several years.
Please pray for our Lord to richly bless the school financially. Tell lots of people about OCA. I believe we have a great thing going, lets share that news!
By His Grace
Keith
1. We have now received the final building permits which will allow completion of the entire school facility. Paula reported to me this week that the city granted the permit which allows for the construction of the interior walls in the high school building. Praise the Lord!
2. Last Thursday, we signed our construction loan with Security National bank. This loan is needed to construct the new space for the cafeteria and high school building.
3. After a visit to the building on Friday night, it is a pleasure to report progress there. Fager Excavating has been working with the needed dirt work on the east side of the property. They will be hauling dirt in soon. Inside, the drywall work is coming very nicely, and I can also report that there are some walls where primer has been applied. That really makes things look like finished space.
Paula tells me that the walls will be painted over the next week or so, and that the ceiling tile work will begin after that. As I looked around the building, I could see Heating and Air work going on. The construction plans call for completion of all all except the flooring within really the next two or three weeks. Flooring will be left for a while, as there will be a lot of dirt from the new construction which will get tracked into the existing building.
This is a key time for us to continue to raise funds for this project. While we have a construction plan funded, any added amounts raised will help with a few key things. These needs include upgrading some floor coverings, and updating furniture in some key areas. Also, anything more we can raise in cash now would allow us to go into our permanent financing after construction with lower debt. Lower debt would lower operating costs, and be a great help over the next several years.
Please pray for our Lord to richly bless the school financially. Tell lots of people about OCA. I believe we have a great thing going, lets share that news!
By His Grace
Keith
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Poll - Telling others about OCA
I am always surprised at how people answer. In an 8 or 9 day poll question, I have had as many as 14, and as few as 4 answers.
Most recently, the poll question was about how frequently people tell others about OCA. Four people answered that they tell others at least once per month. (I know one of those people was my wife!). No one else answered!
Now I realize that this is not a scientific poll, so the numbers themselves don't mean a great deal. But I wonder, how do parents perceive OCA, and how actively do current families market the school to their friends at Church, at work, or their neighborhoods.
With the new facility, there will be no reason to hold back in telling others about the school. We have a good thing going at OCA. Please help us to get the word out. A fortune could be spent on advertising, but your simple statement to a friend will be much more effective.
Thank you!
Keith Strasser
Most recently, the poll question was about how frequently people tell others about OCA. Four people answered that they tell others at least once per month. (I know one of those people was my wife!). No one else answered!
Now I realize that this is not a scientific poll, so the numbers themselves don't mean a great deal. But I wonder, how do parents perceive OCA, and how actively do current families market the school to their friends at Church, at work, or their neighborhoods.
With the new facility, there will be no reason to hold back in telling others about the school. We have a good thing going at OCA. Please help us to get the word out. A fortune could be spent on advertising, but your simple statement to a friend will be much more effective.
Thank you!
Keith Strasser
Friday, July 4, 2008
Independence Day
As I reflect on our national holiday today, I am impressed with how very important, and relatively rare that our freedom is around the world. Not only do we have the legal freedom to pursue what is most important. We also have an economy that provides most people with financial ability to pursue their dreams to at least some degree.
Each of us can pursue what we view as important. For OCA, that is providing our children a fully integrated, Bible based educational experience. I touched on that during the ground breaking. My comments are copied below.
Thanks for reading, and have a happy and safe holiday.
Keith
July 2, 2008
Omaha Christian Academy has a 35 year history of educating students across the Omaha metro area. Started by Temple Baptist Church at 61st and Miami, Temple Christian Academy drew students from around Omaha. My wife attended TCA for her forth through tenth grades! She rode each day from near highway 370 and Fort Crook road in Bellevue to 61st and Miami. During that entire time, the school has operated in space that was either shared with its host Church or rented.
In 1978 a building project was started, but was not completed. Ironically, that building was just south of Crown Point Avenue. Today, we are standing just one half block south of Crown Point Avenue. 30 years later, and 20 blocks further West, we stand here on the future home of the school. The past 25 years have seen the school operate in four locations, and we are more than ready for a place to call our own.
OCA has a great history, and has produced high quality graduates over the years. Test scores and scholarship results demonstrate our academic standards, but OCA is more than that. We stand as a unique school in Omaha, as an accredited, non-denominational school for all grades.
The standards we hold most high, are those taught to us in God’s Holy word, the Bible. The truths found there are fully integrated into everything we do at OCA. Bible is much more than just a class that is added into our daily schedule. It is the very foundation of the way we approach knowledge and education.
Ladies and Gentlemen, lets break ground!
Each of us can pursue what we view as important. For OCA, that is providing our children a fully integrated, Bible based educational experience. I touched on that during the ground breaking. My comments are copied below.
Thanks for reading, and have a happy and safe holiday.
Keith
July 2, 2008
Omaha Christian Academy has a 35 year history of educating students across the Omaha metro area. Started by Temple Baptist Church at 61st and Miami, Temple Christian Academy drew students from around Omaha. My wife attended TCA for her forth through tenth grades! She rode each day from near highway 370 and Fort Crook road in Bellevue to 61st and Miami. During that entire time, the school has operated in space that was either shared with its host Church or rented.
In 1978 a building project was started, but was not completed. Ironically, that building was just south of Crown Point Avenue. Today, we are standing just one half block south of Crown Point Avenue. 30 years later, and 20 blocks further West, we stand here on the future home of the school. The past 25 years have seen the school operate in four locations, and we are more than ready for a place to call our own.
OCA has a great history, and has produced high quality graduates over the years. Test scores and scholarship results demonstrate our academic standards, but OCA is more than that. We stand as a unique school in Omaha, as an accredited, non-denominational school for all grades.
The standards we hold most high, are those taught to us in God’s Holy word, the Bible. The truths found there are fully integrated into everything we do at OCA. Bible is much more than just a class that is added into our daily schedule. It is the very foundation of the way we approach knowledge and education.
Ladies and Gentlemen, lets break ground!
Thursday, July 3, 2008
A Beautiful Day
Wednesday was a beautiful warm summer day here, and that provided exactly what we needed for the ground breaking at the school building. We had a nice turn out, probably around 100 people, including city officials, and OCA families both past and present, and friends of OCA.
Ground was broken, visitors signed a steel beam which will be included in the construction of the building, and toured the renovation work underway in the existing building. Security National Bank, and Hy Vee sponsored the event by providing light refreshments.
The renovation work is progressing so very nicely. A big thanks to Kim Palmer of KLP, Inc. for his continued efforts managing the renovation work. Consider contacting Kim if you have any remodel or construction projects. He does great work!
I spoke with our construction team about the schedule for the new structure. The deadline for finishing the grading work is in two weeks. During that time, fill dirt will be brought to the site, so that the floor of both buildings will be at the same level. Please pray for good weather during this phase. Rebar is to be delivered in two weeks, and the dirt work needs to be done so that footings can be constructed.
Have a safe and happy holiday. Praise the Lord for in nation we live in, where we are free to educate our children in the ways of His Holy Word.
Keith Strasser
Ground was broken, visitors signed a steel beam which will be included in the construction of the building, and toured the renovation work underway in the existing building. Security National Bank, and Hy Vee sponsored the event by providing light refreshments.
The renovation work is progressing so very nicely. A big thanks to Kim Palmer of KLP, Inc. for his continued efforts managing the renovation work. Consider contacting Kim if you have any remodel or construction projects. He does great work!
I spoke with our construction team about the schedule for the new structure. The deadline for finishing the grading work is in two weeks. During that time, fill dirt will be brought to the site, so that the floor of both buildings will be at the same level. Please pray for good weather during this phase. Rebar is to be delivered in two weeks, and the dirt work needs to be done so that footings can be constructed.
Have a safe and happy holiday. Praise the Lord for in nation we live in, where we are free to educate our children in the ways of His Holy Word.
Keith Strasser
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