BUCYRUS, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)—A longtime Christian school on the southwest side of town is seizing “A Moment of Great Opportunity.”

Wayside Christian School has broken ground on a $2.5 million building project – an expansion that will create five new classrooms, offices, a playground, soccer field, and additional parking for students and their families.

“We don’t want to be the little school on the corner that people don’t know about,” said the Rev. Jerrill Wyler, senior pastor of Wayside Chapel, the church that oversees the school.  “We want the community to know we exist because we know Christ exists.”

The non-public school, 2345 Herstetter Road, has been an outreach ministry of Wayside Chapel since its founding in 1963.  It sits on the same 20-acre property as the church and serves students from preschool through 12th grade.

A big reason for the decision to expand, Rev. Wyler said, was the increase in enrollment – 80-percent since the 2018-2019 school year – and numbers still climbing.  “God’s doing the work here.  We’re growing and that’s what got the ball rolling.”

When a severe storm on April 1, 2023, destroyed the roof of the elementary building, he said, it forced administrators to finally bite the bullet.  “We said, ‘You know what?’  God is going to take this bad thing that happened and turn it into good.”

The project – funded by church and community members – also calls for a multi-purpose room, conference room, new pick-up and drop-off area, and beefed-up security, Rev. Wyler said.  It’s expected to be done by the start of the 2025-2026 school year.

He said other good news for Wayside Christian is its recent classification as a chartered school through the state of Ohio.  “This means that we are now able to receive EdChoice funding which will allow most local families to attend at little or no cost.”

H & H Construction in Loudonville is the general contractor for the project, while Cypress Engineering of Apple Creek is the architect.  GMC of Galion is the excavator contractor.

“Our desire is to be a service to our community, and we’ve been able to do that for over 50 years now,” said school administrator Donald Helman, who also serves as assistant pastor of Wayside Chapel.

Rev. Wyler agreed.  “Wayside Christian School is a blessing to this community.  It’s exciting to look back and see how God has made this happen.”

Photos: Wayside Christian School