Penn Christian Academy in Penn Township will become an independent institution beginning with the 2015-16 school year. The school, which enrolls students in preschool through sixth grade, was founded by North Main Street Church of God.

PENN TWP — Penn Christian Academy and its founding church, North Main Street Church of God, will split later this year.

A joint statement released by the academy, 199 Airport Road, and the church, 1201 N. Main St. Ext., states “Through months of prayer, alongside the research of an appointed transition committee, the leadership of North Main Street Church of God and Penn Christian Academy are excited to announce that Penn Christian Academy will be transitioning to an independent institution beginning in the 2015-2016 school year.”

Cindy Dodds, the executive director of the school founded 21 years ago, said, “It's an amicable graduation. The North Main Street Church of God has been a great support to Penn Christian Academy since its founding, and we have come to a place where we are graduating on with the full support of the North Main Street Church of God.”

“There is more opportunity for funding for us as an independent school,” said Dodds.

Dodds said the separation should “take place by July 1, 2015,” and Penn Christian Academy will operate as an independent school.

“There is a transition team in place. It won't affect the operations of the school at all. The school is strong and healthy and able to stand on its own,” said Dodds.

The academy currently has a student body of 230 in preschool through sixth grade.

Dodds added the school has nearly 50 teachers, support staff, secretaries and janitors.

“I don't think it will impact enrollment either way because we have a strong foundation and none of that is changing,” said Dodds.

Dodds said, “The curriculum will remain the same. The Christian distinctiveness will remain the same.”

“The parents won't notice any changes. The changes will primarily be on the board and how the board functions” she added.

Dodds said there are 10 board members currently. She declined to comment on the makeup of a future board saying, “The new bylaws haven't been submitted to the IRS yet, so nothing has been approved. More information will be forthcoming as the bylaws become approved.”

She said the school was originally established in 1993 by the church under the direction of Grove City College professor Lois Johnson.

By 2002, the school had grown beyond the boundaries of the church facility, so the church bought the former Penn Township Elementary School from the South Butler School District.

According to the church statement, “North Main Street Church of God will continue to champion Penn Christian Academy in its future endeavors, and looks forward to continuing the Kingdom impact in the Butler community through independent ministry visions.”

“The independence of Penn Christian Academy will enable broader church and community support for the school and a more focused vision for both organizations in terms of time, energy, and resources,” according to the statement.

Dodds said, “ We do get financial support from the church and it might end. We would hope to be able to get support from other churches.”

The separation, Dodds said, “allows Penn Christian Academy to be seen as a community school rather than as a single church school.”