Early in 2021, the New Richmond Exempted Village School District Board of Education approved a contract to sell the Market Street property to The Patrick Henry Institute.
On Sept. 30th, 2021, the sale officially closed and Board President Kristin Bennett presented the keys to the Institute’s President Kevin Clauson.
“We are pleased to have closed on this sale, especially to an organization that will maintain the building as a place of learning," New Richmond Schools Treasurer/CFO Matthew Prichard said. As required by the state, the money from the sale will be deposited into the district’s permanent improvement fund.
The Market Street property was appraised for $296,000 and sold for $340,000, he said. The sale is another of many efforts taken by the district to streamline costs and maximize efficiencies in the wake of declining revenue caused by the closure of Beckjord Power Station, the impending closure of Zimmer, devaluation of properties, and deregulation in the power industry, Mr. Prichard added.
Mr. Clauson said that the Market Street building will continue to be used for educational purposes. It will be home to the Christendom Bible College which will offer a one-year freshman-level program leading to a diploma in Biblical Worldview Principles.
It is a project of The Patrick Henry Institute, a non-profit, tax-exempt educational corporation registered originally in Virginia.
“We anticipate 100 or more students each year, after our initial opening in Fall 2022,” Mr. Clauson said. The former New Richmond school facility will provide classrooms, faculty and administrative offices, a library, a student lounge, and other uses related to the college. Prior to opening to students next fall, we will be moving in furnishings, installing IT and AV equipment, and in general preparing for educational activities.
“We are excited to launch this new venture in New Richmond, Ohio,” he said. “After looking for a suitable facility for this residential program all over the eastern part of the U.S., we providentially discovered this gem in a lovely area of Ohio, but near all of the amenities of Cincinnati.”
Mr. Clauson said leadership for the new college is thinking about having a community meeting a little later in the fall in the auditorium/gym, to share more details about their plans and to answer questions. All will be invited to attend.