Update on Mount Vernon Academy

MVA Financial Benchmark Not Reached

Dear Ohio Conference Family and Friends,

It has been a hard journey for us as a conference and school family these last months. We had the monumental task of raising $3 million in a short time. Unfortunately, despite the earnest efforts of many students, families, alumni and supporters of Mount Vernon Academy (MVA), I’m sorry to report that we did not receive enough funds to meet the first benchmark. In fact, as of 5 p.m. on February 10, we only received $17,069.

A Brief History

Last month’s Mission Ohio details the research and process leading us to this point. Since we fell immeasurably short of the first financial deadline, MVA will have to cease operations at the end of this school year.

Since arriving in Ohio almost a year ago, I have learned a great deal about our history as a conference and academy. During the last months, I have discovered that MVA has traveled this difficult road repeatedly for more than 30 years and even had a special constituency meeting about their future in 1984. I believed we had time to work out a solution; this was not the case. The situation worsened during the last few years, so severely that in August our academy could not make their first payroll. Upon learning this, the conference immediately took out a $700,000 line of credit to help the academy remain open while we explored options. Friends, we have no other credit available to us at this time, and our own conference finances cannot continue to support MVA beyond this school year, even if MVA tried to restructure itself at this late date.

What Now?

We are committed to seeing this school year through and hope you will join us in supporting the MVA family during Alumni Weekend April 24-26 and graduation May 22-24. Dan Kittle, principal, assures me that all activities associated with a positive end of school year experience will continue. We will focus on celebrating the life, history and value of Mount Vernon Academy.

Monies raised to date and future monies will be used to help constituent students who desire to continue their Adventist secondary education in the years to come. Secondary education will continue to be a part of the big picture for ministry in Ohio, but we will have to do it differently. Join me in asking God to help us come up with the best way to get our young people the education they need.

This is an evolving and ongoing process. Please visit ohioadventist.org for the complete series of updates and further information.

Yours in Christ,

Ron Halvorsen Jr.

President