By Jen Claise
Staff Writer

Mount Zion Christian School has signed a purchase-and-sale agreement to secure a 20-acre parcel of land near the Manchester-Auburn line, where the non-denominational K-12 academy plans to build three school buildings.

Mount Zion will move from its current location at 469 South River Road, Bedford – a rented building space that was formerly the Faith Christian Academy – which school officials knew would be a temporary site. The location is scheduled to be torn down next year to make way for an airport connector road.

COMING SOON – This computer-generated image shows what the land at the Wellington Business Park would look like if the Mount Zion Christian School is built as planned. School officials say they would let the Auburn community use its fields and facilities. (Courtesy Graphic)

Headmaster Homer Allen announced earlier this month that Mount Zion signed a $1.1 million agreement for the land in Wellington Business Park on Dartmouth Drive in Auburn. The new site is about two miles from Interstate 93 and about half a mile from Route 101.

Mount Zion plans to open in September 2006 at the new site, which will include three buildings totaling 46,000 square feet, and feature science and computer labs, performing arts rooms, two playing fields and a large gym.

“We’re seeking to establish a strong Christian school to train the next generation, and the generation thereafter,” Allen said. “It will be a great place to grow.”

The school first opened its doors in Bedford Aug. 30, with more than 150 students enrolled in its first year, 70 of whom are high school students. At the new location, Allen said the school will be able to accommodate 460 students – including 240 in high school.

According to enrollment director Annette Tuttle, the school is now filled to capacity in its 13-classroom location, with a waiting list for some grades.

“We receive inquiries almost every day about the school, and it will be great to be able to point to this beautiful piece of property with new buildings and a huge gym,” Tuttle said.

Allen called the quick negotiations for the land “a blessing” for both school officials and students.

When initially seeking land for a new school, Mount Zion ignored the Wellington Park site due to an Auburn zoning ordinance that prohibited private schools in the park.

However, Auburn later changed the regulations in 2002, specifically allowing private schools on the land.

“That’s why we feel the Lord was involved,” Allen said. “The way it’s worked out has been marvelous.”

And Allen said he hopes Mount Zion will be an asset to the town of about 4,700, where he said residents will be welcome to use the athletic fields and facilities.

He also said the school could attract families to the area once it is in its permanent location Currently, some students travel more than 100 miles each day to attend, he said.

To cover the cost of the entire project, which is estimated at about $7 million – $1.1 million for the land, $400,000 for site work, $5 million for construction and $500,000 for fields and furnishings – Allen also announced a fundraising campaign run by a financial committee and student volunteers.

While Mount Zion would like to raise enough money to open debt-free, Allen said the school would finance part of the project if necessary.

Next year, the school will move to another temporary location, which officials have yet to announce, before moving to Auburn in the following academic year.

Mount Zion’s founders began planning for the school three years ago, when it was announced that Concord Christian School would be closing its high school this year. As it happened, Faith Christian Academy, a K-8 school, also closed, creating a need for another Christian-based school in the area.

However, the school’s philosophy is not based on any particular denomination, Allen said. Instead, students are encouraged to develop their own beliefs.

The school also claims to be the first Christian high school in the nation to fully integrate its curriculum with technology. Every high school student has his or her own wireless laptop computer, and teachers post nearly all of the class material –as well as assignments, grades and comments on students’ work – on the Web.

“We are reaching new heights in education with this methodology,” Allen said.

Mount Zion’s Web site is located at www.mountzionnh.org.