Church Re-Applies for Day School Permit

The pastor of Calvary Christian Center said that his church's could be dropped if the City Council approves a new application to operate a day school. 

"This case would be settled on August 23 if the City Council approves the special use permit," said Pastor Michael Hirsch in a phone interview. "Jesus said agree with your adversary and be in peace as much as possible, that is what we live by, that is what we do."

Calvary Christian Center has filed for a new special use permit to operate a day school at its facility on Jefferson Davis Highway. 

Last year the church saw a similar application to operate a day school for mentally and emotionally disabled children was defeated in an unusual 3-3 tie, with dissenting members of the City Council expressing concerns over possible conflicts erupting between the students at the day school and those attending a before and after school day care at the same facility. This led Calvary Christian Center to sue the city for discrimination on a number of grounds, including that city officials unfairly singled out the disabled in their reasoning to deny. 

But there are some key differences between the new application and the old one. For instance, the original application was made on behalf of Fairwinds Day School specifically to serve children with mental and emotional disabilities. However, the new application is made only on behalf of the church. It also does not specify who will operate the school, saying only that it will serve 12 students between the ages of eight and 15. Hirsch says that if the new permit is granted, his church would be able to host any school certified by the Virginia Board of Education. He says he has received interest from a number of schools. 

"Could it be Fairwinds, it certainly could," said Hirsch. "Will it be Fairwinds? We won't know until the 24th."

The new permit goes before the Planning Commission for a public hearing on Aug. 10 at 7:30 p.m.