The Dayton Christian Schools plan a $15 million expansion by 2020 on 43 acres south of Dayton Mall. The plan calls for an athletic complex anchored by a gymnasium and stadium, as well as a theater and administrative addition.

The Dayton Christian Schools’ K-12 campus, virtual school and administrative offices already are located on the site, northeast of the interchange at Spring Valley and Washington Church roads.

On Tuesday, the Miami Twp. trustees approved rezoning and plans for the expansion on the land. This is the latest development unveiled in the corridor between Dayton Mall and the new Interstate 75 interchange at Austin Boulevard. It also is the latest private school expansion planned in the Miami Valley, while public schools consider levies to offset funding problems.

In January, Chaminade Julienne Catholic High School began construction on a nearly $4 million renovation turning 11 second-floor classrooms into a STEMM Center expected to open in August. During the next two years, the Miami Valley School plans a $1.5 million expansion moving pre-K students from Kettering to the school’s main campus in Washington Twp.

Unlike public schools, funded through levies and state funding, private schools like Dayton Christian Schools are funded through tuition and donations. The school is expected to fund the expansion through private donations raised through a fund-raising campaign.

“The schedule of development on the site is dependent on the funding available,” according to the plan submitted to the township.

Originally located in Xenia, Legacy Ministries International also operates Xenia Christian School in Xenia. Three years ago, the organization sold the rest of facilities on a 240-acre campus in Xenia to Athletes in Action and National Church Residences, a retirement center organization, Elliott said.

In 2005, Legacy Ministries purchased the land for $1.1 million from a limited partnership set up by developer George Oberer Jr., according to property records.

“We’re moving through the process of developing a master site plan that is a comprehensive plan to secure the future facilities,’ said Bob Elliott, president and CEO of Dayton Christian Schools.

This year, 1,420 students attend the schools, Elliott said.

“The purpose of this is to address the needs of our students and to best provide for their full educational outcomes and expectations,” he added.

The expansion plan also calls for play areas for kindergarten and pre-K, along with soccer, baseball, lacrosse, softball fields, tennis courts and a lighted stadium with a running track, along Washington Church Road, in front of the existing buildings.

The land is a former NCR training site recently issued a covenant not to sue by the Ohio EPA. Miami Twp. helped fund a study prompting the covenant not to sue issued in February from the EPA, according to an EPA press release.

“No chemicals of concern were detected on the site and the site is suitable for unrestricted use,” according to the Ohio EPA.

Staff writer Margo Rutledge Kissell contributed to this report.