Central Private to Build New Campus on Gurney

Central Private School is embarking on a plan to build a new campus on Gurney between Joor and Sullivan roads in the City of Central. Phase I of the project will be put out for bid late this year, according to CPS board chairman Brennan Easley. The new campus will be located east of the existing campus at 12801 Centerra Ct., which flooded in August 2016.

About $12 million in FEMA funds are making Phase I possible. Construction should take about one year, Easley said, and classroom instruction could move to the new site in the middle of the 2020-2021 school year.

Athletic fields will be included in Phase II of the project, and the existing facilities will be used in the meanwhile. FEMA funds will not cover those costs, and additional money will have to be raised.

Central Private currently has 398 students, according to head of school David Prescott.

Easley said the new school will accommodate 750 students in pre-K3 through the 12th grade. He said purchase of the property should be complete this month.

The new Central Private campus at Joor and Gurney will be situated on 27 acres, which are currently used for cattle.  Easley said the property did not flood in August 2016, and none of the major buildings are in the flood zone. However, some of the ball fields are, he said.

Traffic and drainage issues are being worked out, Prescott said.

Once Phases I and II are complete, total spending on the project should be about $20 million, Easley said.

Prescott, a lifelong public educator, was principal at Central High School before accepting the position at Central Private. In an interview at the time, Prescott said he was drawn to CPS because of the smaller student body, family atmosphere, and freedom from excessive regulations. He said it would allow him to better serve the individual student.

Easley, who graduated from Central Private, joined the board eight years ago. Prescott said Easley is the driving force making the new campus a reality. 

The Easley family is deeply involved in both public and private education in Central. Brennan’s  father, Will Easley, is a longtime elected member of the Central Community School Board.

Brennan Easley agreed with Prescott about the advantages of Central Private and added some others:

•Independent of government bureaucracy

•Although not affiliated with a church or denomination, Central Private offers a Christian environment.

•CPS offers a safe environment for students and faculty.

•Families know each other and work together.

•Pre-K3 to 12th grade on one campus has a number of advantages.

•Central Private is a college preparatory school.

Easley said the reason for moving Central Private is to get the school out of the flood zone. It will also provide new facilities with easier access. Building on the new site will allow classes to continue without disruption at the old site until the new work is complete.

Current members of the Central Private Board of Directors are Brennan Easley, chairman; Jimmy Flotte, vice chairman; Aaron Armand, secretary; Brian Skelton, treasurer; Mikelyn Sumner; Travis Gomez, and Joseph Halphen.

In other developments, Central Private will announce a new mascot on May 23.

On July 1, Central Private will join the LHSAA.

For more information, go to the school’s website at www.centralprivate.org.