In January, the board notified parents that the high school grades would be discontinued next fall because of financial deficits the church was having to make up.
“Our enrollment has gone steadily downhill over the past six to seven years,” Atherton said.
The school, started 34 years ago, at one time had 200 students, he said. “We’ve struggled but we’re a fatality of a bad economy,” he said.
The church board decided at its June 16 meeting to close the school.
“The church is grieving the loss,” he said.
Eighteen staff people will lose their jobs, but will be paid through Aug. 1, the end of their contracts.
Xenia Christian School has offered to accept students who transfer there next fall at Xenia Nazarene’s lower tuition rate, he said.
It is: $3,990 for kindergarten; $4,365 for grades 1 to 5; $4,813 for grades 6 to 8.
The day care and preschool will continue to operate in the church, he said.
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