St. Mary’s okays revenue bonds for Christian school

Callaway, MD — The St. Mary’s County Commissioners on Tuesday unanimously approved the issuance of $3.7 million in Economic Development Revenue Bonds for King’s Christian Academy (KCA). The bonds, which are available to non-profit organizations, do not obligate the county to pay off the loan and do not affect the county’s bond rating. They do, however, save the K-12 school in Callaway $40,000 a year in debt service.

The bonds will be used by the school to expand facilities and programs. In a presentation to the county commissioners before the decision, KCA Administrator Kevin Fry said they are growing unlike many Christian schools. From 68 families 35 years ago, the 329 students today represent 246 families. The school is projected to grow to 1,000 students in the next 25 years.

Of the total enrollment, the majority, or 298 students, comes from St. Mary’s. Calvert County has 26 students and Charles five. Free transportation is provided for St. Mary’s and Calvert students and for a fee for Charles students. All zip codes are served by transportation in St. Mary’s except Chaptico and Scotland.

Fry told the commissioners that his school saves county taxpayers $3.7 million a year in tax avoidance. With that projected enrollment the savings will be $15 million yearly.
The monies raised from the bond sale will be used among other things to improve the school’s outside athletic facilities and add locker rooms inside. It will allow the addition of 50 classroom seats within the school.

In addition to the tax avoidance positive, Fry told the commissioners that the school employs 50 full- and part-time teachers, aides and support staff.

According to Fry, “The Kings Christian Academy serves the Community of Faith in St. Mary’s County.” He said 48 churches are represented at the academy.

Fry said that the academy serves hundreds of students each year at a summer camp that employs around 30 people, half of whom are college students home for the summer. The majority of summer camp attendees do not go to KCA.

King’s Christian Academy started in 1980 as Lexington Park Christian School next to Lexington Park Baptist Church. They moved to Callaway and became KCA in 2002.