Presently the Board of GOCA is seeking funding to build an edifice to house a pre-school, and grades K-3 elementary school.  In the future, GOCA intends to expand its edifice to accommodate grades 4-12 high school and various other community outreach programs, including a camp for use by children and adults.  One of GOCA’s major goals is to foster and facilitate the educational needs of students, parents, and the community at-large, because it believes they are intricately entwined, and if one is to succeed, they all must succeed.  GOCA’s goal is to found a viable, living organism among the Byhalia, MS community that is capable of sustaining an outstanding morally based educational institution in Byhalia, MS for the good of its inhabitants and surrounding communities. 

Recent data suggest that even with stringent federal “No Child Left Behind” (NCLB) regulations, educators are frustrated and perplexed about low academic achievement in public schools.  Students attending public school in Byhalia, MS and Marshall County are no exception to the nationwide plight of poor academic achievement.  Residents of Byhalia and Marshal County are also in a lower socio-economic stratum.  Recent data from the Federal Government’s NCLB Average Yearly Progress (AYP) Report Cards for Byhalia and Marshall County, suggest that there is a correlation between low school performance and low socio-economic status.  An analysis of the data also indicated that students who attend private and parochial schools score higher on national exams than those attending public school.  GOCA’s response to poor academic performance among students attending public school in Byhalia, MS is to build an edifice which will provide an excellent education for students - in collaboration with parents, the community at-large, and stakeholders - within the context of a holistic, synchronistic, integrated educational program designed to enhance the educational process, raise students’ test scores, and break the cycle of academic failure.  GOCA will also extend scholarships to students based on their parent’s socio-economic status. 

The purpose of this grant is to acquire funds to build an edifice to house GOCA which will initially entail a pre-school and grades K-3 elementary school.  Construction of the facility is central to GOCA providing an excellent education for children in Byhalia, MS, Marshall County, and the outlying areas.  The Method Design entails the following: (a) define the Board’s role and responsibilities; (b) collaborate with parents, the community, and stakeholders; (c) research and seek outside architectural assistance; (d) select a schematic design; (e) plan design development; (f) complete construction documents; (g) prepare bid; (h) open bid; (i) award contract; (j) develop construction timeline and begin construction; (k) advertise construction; and (l) evaluate and revise plan and timeline.  The expected outcome is the completed edifice.  The result of completing this structure is (a) to provide excellent education to children in Byhalia, MS, Marshall County, and the outlying areas; (b) to lay the initial groundwork for the long-term goals of constructing and operating a pre-school to K-12 education institution; (c) to enhance and enrich the lives of the residents of Byhalia, MS, Marshall County, and outlying areas; (d) to increase the limited employment opportunities for local residents; and (e) to promote long term sustainable change in the community and in people’s lives, affording them an opportunity to become productive citizens and providing them the impetus to break the cycle of academic failure.

GOCA is already in possession of land in Byhalia, MS on which to build the edifice.  The acres of land are being donated by a prominent, respected local family for the purpose of housing the school facilities.  The completion of the initial phase of the project will afford GOCA the opportunity to reach its short-range and long-range goals, an institution that will service the Byhalia community and the surrounding communities.  The building project has been estimated to cost between $ 5,975,000 and $7,557,576.  The initial building project includes: a general structure and its amenities, offices, a preschool facility, classrooms to facilitate grades K-3, rooms for after school care, a computer lab, building engineer facilities, a library, a cafeteria, storage rooms, a multipurpose room, and a parking lot(s).

After the first full school year, one grade levels will be added every year, including the construction of facilities every third year - up to the twelfth grade.  To date, the estimated timeframe to complete the initial phase of the project is 14 months.

All contributions will be used exclusively for building purposes and are tax deductible.  GOCA is a nonprofit organization.  All benefactors will receive a receipt for their contribution.

You can contribute to the building fund by mailing a check or money order to:

Great Oaks Christian Academy
Post Office Box 923
Byhalia, Mississippi 38611