All schools struggle economically in a society that expects much more from our education institutions than we are willing to pay for. AUA has had the blessing of God year in and year out; it is called the "miracle school," because on numerous occasions when it probably should have either been closed or cut back to a junior academy, the constituency managed to keep it open as a senior academy. We have had years of good, strong enrollment. The seventies and early eighties were the best years, especially '81 and '82, in both of which the senior classes numbered twenty-four. In 1982, (according to yearbooks and senior portraits hanging in the chapel), the high school enrollment was 64, total enrollment 230. In 1981, grades 9-12 alone had 73 students, and the total enrollment was an incredible 245 students! But there have always been the lean years when enrollment dropped low enough to make operating the school more than the usual challenge. We are experiencing the end of one of those lean years now. Total enrollment stands at 111, with just 35 students enrolled in the high school.
And at the annual board meeting of the 1996-97 school year, the conference educational superintendent spoke to this issue. He strongly suggested that if we do not boost enrollment soon, we will have to consider the alternative: cutting back to a junior academy. I don't know for sure, but I think that suggestion has been offered to the miracle school before, and somehow, it stays open. We give God the credit.
But before we smugly sit back on our haunches and wait for the Lord to deliver us one more year, why don't we consider the alternatives not heard at annual board?
Why don't we have a regular recruiting effort in place? A permanent boost in enrollment would be the single most effective solution to our economic woes. Is it realistic? Maybe we won't know until we try. Schools that have hired recruiting specialists in paid staff positions have experienced significant growth. True, that is spending money to make money, but that's what investing is all about. And catering more to the non-Adventist Christian market may require a change in our mission statement, but maybe Adventist parents would rather have their children educated in a local mission school rather than home-schooling them or sending them to distant SDA schools or nearby public schools. And education is used by the church for evangelism throughout the world.
Adding new sources of income for the school besides student tuition could bring financial security to AUA. School industries have always been a part of Adventist schools, and an agricultural industry would seem to be an obvious choice given our location and the number of AUA constituents involved in the business already. Other industries might be possible.
Finally, some Adventist academies have had to swallow their pride, dissolve rivalries, and join together with nearby sister schools in order to stay open and viable. Great Lakes Adventist Academy is a notable example in Michigan, and two of our four academy teachers (Mr. and Mrs. Knecht) are intimately acquainted with the details of that particular merger. I have had an informal conversation with Terry Leoffler, the principal of Sierra View Junior Academy, and similar talks with some of AUA's constituents. Mr. Leoffler has informed me that in strictly informal talks he has had with people over there, he has found many who are ready to think seriously about combining our two schools. I have found a similar attitude here. It may be that the Lord wants to combine AUA and Sierra View Junior Academy and make a stronger, healthier school than either of them can be separately.
If we located a 9-12 grade academy halfway between our schools, we could maintain the current K-8 programs where they are. An enormous endeavor? Indeed; just ask the Knechts! But with God, all things are possible. And this possibility is worth thinking and praying about.
The education of young people is an important mission God has
given to us. I challenge the readers of the Adobe Echo to pray and talk
prayerfully about these ideas, and to discuss them seriously with the people who
are able and willing to do the best thing for Christian education in our area.
Jim Miles
5/7/97