The Christian school affiliated with the Grace Brethren Church in Clinton, Maryland (Irv Clark, pastor) was recently featured in a local story on how private schools are surviving the economic turndown. Here is an excerpt–to read the entire story click here.

Prince George’s County’s private schools cope with lower enrollments during recession

While some private schools in Prince George’s County have closed because of the worst recession since World War II, others have managed to keep moving forward with projects and plans for growth.

One of them is Grace Brethren Christian School in Clinton, which serves pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.

Grace Brethren is building a two-story library and classroom addition that is expected to open in time for the 2011-12 school year, school director George Hornickel said in May. It is the school’s first addition and is expected to cost about $2.5 million for the building, plus $100,000 to furnish and equip it.

“We’re still planning for the long term,” said Hornickel, who has been with the school for 25 years, the last nine as director.

The school had to extend the length of its mortgage on the new building to lower yearly borrowing costs, but the work is still moving ahead in anticipation of a revived economy and an upswing in enrollment, he said.

“When you have a good product, and the economy turns around, we’ll grow,” Hornickel said.