Gospel Haven Academy’s expansion nearly finished

With its 25th anniversary coming up next year, Gospel Haven Academy in Benton is embarking on a major expansion.

The school’s mission statement says, “Gospel Haven Academy empowers students to seek the Kingdom of God by educating through the lens of a biblical worldview. We inspire students to discover the person of God, leading them to faith, service and community.”

A major expansion project will help ensure the school is able to continue its mission well into the future.

“We’re so excited about this we can hardly wait,” Principal Carla Kauffman said.

The project consists of a new gym, multi-purpose building and school wing, which will contain 10 classrooms and a music room. In addition there will be a large kitchen and a cafeteria in the new wing.

Kauffman said the project, contracted by Ivan Weaver Construction, is surprisingly close to schedule considering last spring’s rainy weather. “We’re hoping for completion by the end of February for the gym and the end of April for the school,” she said.

According to Kauffman, the gym — which features two full-size basketball courts — will serve as a multi-purpose area for the church and the school.

“We’re going to have a big curtain separating the courts, so at times we’ll still be able to use half the gym for school while using the other half for church functions such as weddings, funerals and the like,” Kauffman said.

Born in Goshen, Indiana and raised in Ontario, Canada, Kauffman said she has really only taught in very small schools over the years.

Kauffman said as the school grows, she feels like she grows as an educator. “I’m so fortunate to have a great staff and wonderful support here, and the kids are so great. I get so excited to have an environment that is set up so well,” she said. “It is really a dream come true.”

The school has 100 students in kindergarten through grade 12. Kauffman said they’re hoping to add preschool in 2021.

The Gospel Have Academy originally started in 1996 in the basement of the church and had expanded to include two out buildings over the years. The first addition was built in 1998. That included a new auditorium and a small gym and kitchen. Once that was completed, the school was able to use the complete old building.

Kauffman said the church will now use the old classrooms for Sunday school classrooms and maybe pastor’s studies or offices.

Gospel Haven Church has a membership of around 350. Church members donated funds and held fundraisers for the gym. School patrons and several local businessmen who are passionate about Christian education provided the funding for the school wing of the project.

“When we got one of the very large donations, I knew that this project was a real possibility,” Kauffman said.

Kauffman said the students are very excited about the expansion. She said she overheard a couple girls the other day say, “We’re gonna have lockers in the hall and everything. We’ll have to start practicing our ‘hallway walk.’”

In August 2020 the addition will open to its first class.