NewDay Christian

Academy's survival is down to a matter of hours.

The school

on Flat Shoals Road in College Park, formerly Old National Christian Academy,

may have to close its doors after 27 years as a Christian school of excellence.

The school

is at a crossroads as BB&T Bank, mortgage holder, has started foreclosure

proceeding on the school property. The school has until Sunday to raise

$111,000 to stop the foreclosure.

"We're

just hoping something will come through. Cascade Road Methodist Church

is looking at helping us," said the school's business manager, Denise

Curtis.

Curtis said

the school's financial troubles resulted from cost overruns in an expansion

project. The $230,000, two-phase expansion project includes merging the

school's two campuses into one.

Cost overruns

caused the school to dip into operating funds to complete the project

to address overcrowded classrooms.

The school

was not successful in getting additional funds from BB&T Bank to cover

the cost of the project. The school needs $500,000 to cover past due mortgage

payments and other expenses and to order the curriculum and books for

the coming school year.

Old National

Christian Academy, now known as NewDay, has been established for 27 years

and services students from pre-kindergarten through middle school.

Last year,

the school had 277 students and tuition ranges from $4,300 to $4,900 a

year.

NewDay's mission

is to promote the total and advanced development of children so that they

are equipped to make a real and positive difference in the world.

"We have

a lot of positive things to talk about: Three of our former students graduated

from Landmark Christian Academy High School in May 2001 at the top of

their class ­ summa cum laude, magna cum laude and cum laude,"

said Principal Tina Curtis.

"Eighty

percent of our students are honor roll achievers. Our students, on an

average, test and score one to two years over the national norm on scholastic

aptitude tests. World heavy weight boxing champion Evander Holyfield donated

the funds to purchase the property to build the current facilities. His

children attended Old National Christian Academy," she added.

The NewDay

Board chairman is the Rev. Charles Barlow, formerly a general manager

with Xerox Business Services, currently a regional services manager with

En Pointe Technologies Inc.

He also is

the deputy director of Georgia Summit of African American Business Organizations,

a nonprofit organization. He has been a business turnaround specialist

for over 20 years.

All four of

Barlow's children attended NewDay and went on to excel in Atlanta Public

Schools and at Morris Brown College. He expects NewDay to be ready for

his 1-year-old grandson, Jamari, when he reaches age 3.

"At a

time when the government is trying to pass education reform bills to spend

more money to improve education in the nation and the state of Georgia,

we are having trouble raising $500,000," said Barlow. "NewDay

is already doing what our public and private schools are trying to do."

The NewDay

board launched a $500,000 fund-raising campaign March 4 when the new board

members were installed.

They have sought

assistance from churches, businesses and foundations. Some of the largest

churches in the metro Atlanta area have been slow to respond to the needs

of the school, Barlow said. The board is in negotiations with Cascade

United Methodist Church and other churches to form partnerships.

This process

could take until the end of July, which may be too late for the foreclosure

deadline.

The business

community is responding favorably, especially the 100 Black Men, he said.

Those who have heard the NewDay story have committed to help NewDay by

giving their time, talent and financial support.

Among these

are Dr. Joseph Johnson, former president of Grambling University; Nate

Golston, CEO of Gourmet Services, and Sid Levy, owner of two OutBack Steakhouse

restaurants. OutBack sponsored a fund-raiser for NewDay and has committed

to being a business partner.

The board,

parents, faculty and staff have worked together on several fund-raising

projects to raise funds and awareness of school's plight. The NewDay parents

sponsored a successful board-supported fund-raiser May 19 to complete

the modular expansion project. The expansion modules are now complete

phases one and two but money is still owed the contractors.

"Through

all of our trials we have triumphed through faith in God and teamwork.

We have planted and watered, but God gives the increase. We ask you to

make the decision to join us in a partnership that will benefit the children

and youth of metropolitan Atlanta through NewDay," said Barlow

To help call

770-996-0404.

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