Maybe downtown advocates need to find a way to take advantage of the significant amount of people our churches continue to pull into the core on a daily basis?
QuoteDOWNTOWN -- First Baptist Church of Jacksonville plans to start a religious private elementary school in Downtown Jacksonville in the fall of 2009. Baptist officials studied the idea for about a year and made the official decision about a month ago.
The school, to be called First Baptist Academy of Jacksonville, is the first such effort for the church. It will start with kindergarten through third grade, with plans to add a grade each year up to grade six.
"We're searching for a headmaster and working on organizational matters," said the Rev. John Blount, First Baptist's executive pastor of administration. The church has already set up a Web site for the planned school at bcjaxacademy.com.
The cost of establishing the Downtown school will be greatly reduced because it will not require new construction, Blount said. The school will be in an existing building at the corner of Laura and Beaver streets that the church has owned since 2001. It is already configured for classrooms for First Baptist's Sunday School classes.
http://jacksonville.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2008/04/28/story5.html
Yep. more people coming to the core on a daily basis. As the school continues to grow so will the number of people coming Downtown. All one has to do is look at the FBC Dallas Academy. This is where the idea comes from. Dr Brunson started that school and now he is doing the same for Jacksonville.
I'm surprised that FBC Jax didn't already have a school, considering its size. FBC Charleston is actually doing the opposite of this, unfortunately (a school is planned to be built on James Island, a suburban section of the city), but that is due to its campus being completely surrounded by historic houses in the tourist district. There's no way to expand.
The difference in FBC Jax's situation is that they have the ability to expand and acquire more land for an elementary school. It's a great idea. You'll have more people in the core: teachers, administrators, and commuting parents and their kids. I hope this plan becomes a reality.
This will be a huge plus for downtown! Once established, parents with young kids will no longer need to move out to the burbs out of fear of the public school system.
It will make downtown an option for more people. I hope this school gets a big enrollment.
Quote from: stephendare on April 25, 2008, 11:00:29 AM
Well, we couldn't possibly do any worse of a job teaching actual history, science and or biology than New Life does at the beaches with Providence.
It would be nice to see a legitimate school open, but if theres going to be well funded brainwashing going on, it might as well be downtown.
How did I know a reply like this was coming! Guess, I am brainwashed too! I dont see anyone else running Downtown to open a school. At least FBC is giving a shot.
Yeah...i was waiting on these kinds of comments as well fsujax. Easy Target.
and speaking of being brainwashed, i have to force myself off these boards for periods of times because it sometimes feels like i am being "brainwashed" by some who post non-stop.
Quote from: stephendare on April 25, 2008, 11:12:15 AM
Quote from: Driven1 on April 25, 2008, 11:09:56 AM
Yeah...i was waiting on these kinds of comments as well fsujax. Easy Target.
and speaking of being brainwashed, i have to force myself off these boards for periods of times because it sometimes feels like i am being "brainwashed" by some who post non-stop.
Have you? Maybe next time someone will notice.
on cue, you are.
OOOOOH... SCUZZ ME!!! Cut to the bone!! Good one!!!
There are several old buildings available for sale in the vicinity of First Baptist. Maybe they could buy one, restore it and reuse it as the school?
from the first post in the thread:
QuoteThe cost of establishing the Downtown school will be greatly reduced because it will not require new construction, Blount said. The school will be in an existing building at the corner of Laura and Beaver streets that the church has owned since 2001. It is already configured for classrooms for First Baptist's Sunday School classes.
If the city were smart, they would be coordinating this project along with the JTA Laura Street Business Center and FCCJ's Downtown Campus Master Plan. Right now the other two projects are being designed with no awareness to how important it is for them to properly address the streets. With a little coordination, these three projects can eliminate the gap between Springfield and Downtown on Laura Street. Imagine a strip, where you can walk from the Springfield Historic District, Karpeles and Hogans Creek, all the way to the Landing, without being forced to walk stretches with huge surface parking lots. That's possible with a little coordination between the private and public sector.
Whoops. Overlooked that. Sorry. :-[
QuoteWhoops. Overlooked that. Sorry.
No big deal. I'm not familiar with this particular building and its entry locations. I would hope that they put a little money into the entry, so people are aware that there is a school there, as they move (walk or drive) down Laura.
Quote from: stephendare on April 25, 2008, 12:09:12 PM
I noted that the establishment of the school was in a preexisting building.....I dont think that building is large enough for a six year program with the type of enrollment that FBC will be able to garner.
They will add another class year on an annual basis until they have K-6, and if Providence academy is any guideline, it wont be long before the demand to continue on through graduation happens.
From the artiicle, it seems each grade will have a max of 60 students. That puts the overall attendance at 420, when its all said and done.
Does FBC have recreational and playground facilities? If not, it should be interesting to see how they handle that issue.
The school will be housed in the Children's/Welcome Building that was built a few years ago. The building was configured to accomodate a school. It is very high tech and extremely nice inside. there is even a full gymnasium with a cafe on the 5th floor. As the school continues to grow, I am sure the church will begin to look at expansion. But, from what I can tell the entire school in the future K-12 will all be Downtown. Check out FBC Dallas Academy. This is where FBC Jax is probably going to end up.
http://www.fbacademy.com/
Excuse my ignorance of FBC's facilities. Is the Children's Building the modern glass building with the crosswalk over Laura?
QuoteDowntown Campus - First Baptist Church of Dallas
(map) Located in downtown Dallas on the campus of First Baptist Church, the First Baptist Academy's unique location offers convenient and easy access for parents working in or near the city of Dallas.
The Downtown Campus occupies three buildings with the Lower School in the Burt Building, Kindergarten in the Christian Education Building, and the Middle and Upper Schools in the Spurgeon Harris Buildling.
Situated near the Dallas Arts District, First Baptist Academy students are within walking distance to the Dallas Museum of Art and the world famous Morton Meyerson Symphony Center. FBA students have opportunities to participate in interactive tours, classes, and public events at these facilities to enrich their cultural lives.
Dart Bus and Rail Systems are located either on or within two blocks of the Downtown Campus. Students are charged a reduced fare. For information regarding Dart routes in your area, call (214) 979-1111.
Car pools are being utilized from certain neighborhoods to the Downtown Campus. A listing of Academy families in your respective zip code area is made available each year to those who request it.
Limited parking at a nominal charge is available through the First Baptist Church office. Spaces are offered to 12th, 11th, and 10th-grade students in that order until filled.
Sounds exciting.
Quote from: fsujax on April 25, 2008, 11:06:28 AM
Quote from: stephendare on April 25, 2008, 11:00:29 AM
Well, we couldn't possibly do any worse of a job teaching actual history, science and or biology than New Life does at the beaches with Providence.
It would be nice to see a legitimate school open, but if theres going to be well funded brainwashing going on, it might as well be downtown.
How did I know a reply like this was coming! Guess, I am brainwashed too! I dont see anyone else running Downtown to open a school. At least FBC is giving a shot.
Stephen cynicism has it's place but come on Christian school bashing before one class is open?
Well that's just perfect. It's good to know somebody is investing our future. So what if those kids believe the world is flat, that women can never leed, and the only places you should support are Baptist. I like the Baptist, well in particular, the FREE WILL baptist. I like knowing I can walk away from salvation although it's a process I would never follow since I'm a born again christian.
Quote"If the city were smart, they would be ..."
Lake, my fear is that you have already answered your own question here. Playgrounds, parks, fountains, museums, librarys, art gallerys, Hogans Creek, Trolleys, Trolley-Electric Parks, sports fields, even that age old giant Mini-Golf playground North of the old City Waterworks in Confederate Park... Imagine! Humans! Schools!
Children and Parents! Did you know I too attended school in SPRINGFIELD? That is where we stood at the little playground and watched the Navy Airships... That big church around 40? and Pearl? or was it main? Anyway the teachers and the memorys are sweet and quite urban. I think our bus was a surplus WWII ambulance! Ocklawaha
QuoteWell that's just perfect. It's good to know somebody is investing our future. So what if those kids believe the world is flat, that women can never leed, and the only places you should support are Baptist.
The teaching of many of the Christian religions is that women may not be the HEAD or LEAD pastor or presit of a congregation. This has loosed considerably in recent years, even the FBC has many women in top leadership positions. The rule was set out in the Bible, probably not to bruise the Mid-Eastern (women are property) mindset.
In Colombia, I quickly discovered that the Baptist, Methodist, Lutherans, Missionary Alliance even the Adventist, and Assemblies of God... interchange material, people, money and labor like one giant family. "WE attended a "Christian Church" made up of "all of the above" and were stunned to find the Church of Rome had invited all of us to use their retreat in an Andes paradise for a week long youth and family program. The front rows were packed with every priest and nun in the state of Antioquia! So it's not your fathers FBC that we're dealing with... Question that? I challenge any of you to try CHETS CREEK CHURCH on Hodges and tell me what you think... BUT shhhhhh! It's Southern Baptist backed!
Now as a member of the "FLAT EARTH SOCIETY" they never taught this truth in my church school... Hee hee, Imagine an elevator running straight through the center of the ROUND earth from LA to PARIS... (Got that image?) Okay, you jump in at LA and come out in Paris STANDING ON YOUR HEAD! Looks like a top and a bottom to me! And Hell the more Soco I consume, the better the theory sounds. Besides ever REALLY look into the Columbus (Colombus) Voyage? The man started off with 23 ships, all but 3 went over the edge before they got here! Baptist Science? NOT! Oops gotta jet, another UFO show is on TV, been in Roswell too!Ocklawaha
it's funny how everyone presupposes to know what the favorite whipping boy (the Baptists) believes (much of it blatantly accused falsely here)...but none can explain their own beliefs as solidly.
I can I explain mine. Jesus was a man who walked this earth and died for my sin. Now, the baptist plans for downtown is a huge win for the city. First, we'll got all those narrow minded children out of public school and into an institution that's better suited to their needs, not unlike the pologamist compound in Texas. Thess kids are going to be a great asset to the church. They will lack the experience of being part of the society in general and they will be taught that men can only be the pastor. Wonder if they only let men teach too, rather at least teach the work of God. So, why hasn't there ever been a woman Pope? Should we be glad it's not a catholic school? I guess then it wouldn't be a school but more a PreSchool/Child Molestation Center. So, yeah, the city should support the school the best it can.
Quote from: gatorback on April 26, 2008, 04:14:29 PM
Should we be glad it's not a catholic school? I guess then it wouldn't be a school but more a PreSchool/Child Molestation Center.
oh yeah - don't forget the Catholics!!!
now we know why mother theresa started all those orphanages, huh?
My only question is whether this means even more street closures? Will vital arteries in, out and through Downtown be blocked twice a day when the school bell rings?
^ Good question. I also wonder where they plan to park the faculty.
This could be a great draw for the Southbank condos because they are right on the skyway line with a stop on a block or two away from the school. The students would have the coolest "school bus" in town!
Parking shouldn't be a problem. FBC has a couple of massive parking garages, plus there's a block long surface lot right behind the building.
Parking for the school will probably be in garage 3 or 4. Which means people will have to get out and walk. I doubt the church will able block major arteries during the AM or PM peak. They might have crossing guards though along Beaver or Laura Streets...who knows. Lake that parking lot is very small and would not be near enough parking to accomodate the entire school.
Are 3 & 4 the garage with the lighthouse and the one next too it? What are garages 1 & 2 (I'm assuming these are the ones that face Laura Street) used for during the day? For comparisons sake, the one block walk from the garage on Hogan is about equal distance to the walk parents and faculty have to make a my son's school, Mandarin Oaks Elementary.
Quote from: thelakelander on April 28, 2008, 10:53:03 AM
Are 3 & 4 the garage with the lighthouse and the one next too it? What are garages 1 & 2 (I'm assuming these are the ones that face Laura Street) used for during the day? For comparisons sake, the one block walk from the garage on Hogan is about equal distance to the walk parents and faculty have to make a my son's school, Mandarin Oaks Elementary.
Yes, 4 has the Lighthouse and 3 is the one next to it. Garage 1 is the Preschool garage and 2 is the large one to the east of the main auditorium. Garage 1 is for chuch business and 2 is open for Downtown workers to park in. So, thats why I believe 3 or 4 will be for the school.
I'm interested to see what this will do to the attendance of the other private schools in the area? ACD, Bolles, TCA, UC, Providence. As First Baptist grows, I would think these other schools will lose alot of students.