Sioux Center Christian School held a groundbreaking for their Blazer Center Campus Expansion project today, part of the Ignite Campaign. The project adds a multi-purpose performance, athletic, and gathering space, along with six middle school classrooms. The initial cost estimate was $14.7 million and was approved by the Sioux Center Christian School Society, but with increasing construction costs, school officials wanted to find financially efficient solutions to decrease the cost during the planning stages. Those efforts resulted in reducing the original estimate by one-million-dollars to $13.7 million. The expansion is an effort to address the record and increasing enrollment at the school. Head of School Josh Bowar says most of the growth is in the kindergarten through 2nd grades.
Bowar says they have a responsibility to address the issues of using space responsibly.
School officials also want to meet the needs of the greater community. Bowar says one church utilizes their gymnasium each week, and the Catholic Church uses it each Wednesday evening. Continuing that community partnership, Bowar says the multi-purpose area, which will have two basketball courts, will be available to the community as well.
Sioux Center Mayor Dale Vander Berg, a graduate of Sioux Center Christian School talked about the value of education in Sioux Center and thanked Sioux Center Community Schools Superintendent Gary McEldowny, Dordt University President Dr. Erik Hoekstra, and Sioux Center Christian School leaders for their commitment to educational partnership within the community.
The project, which also includes new playground equipment, a lobby, a library refresh, and a kitchen remodel, should be complete and ready for use for the 2025/26 school year.
