“I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter hidden things, things from of old–what we have heard and known, what our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done” (Psalm 78:2-4).
In the early 1980s, a Christian school was established in Pittsburgh, PA. At the same time several founding members of Cornerstone lived in Pennsylvania and were impressed by the joyful attitude towards school held by students in this new, innovative Christian school. These Cornerstone founders were convinced that when they had children, they would want them to attend a school like this one. Meanwhile in Kent, Ohio, Christians were praying about the future of Christian education in their community.
Between the early 1980s and 1994, the Lord brought to this area numerous people who would eventually become involved in the establishment of Cornerstone Community School. When many of the school founders had children approaching school age, the question arose, “Should we send our children to one of the schools that presently exist, opt for home schooling or consider starting the kind of school that we really want to have our children attend?” After much prayer and seeking God’s will in this matter, several families came together to begin Cornerstone Community School. Since it seemed as though the Lord was opening many doors, efforts were begun to establish a new school.
This group of about 20 people attended a variety of churches and denominations but shared a common vision for pursuing education which would contribute to the building of God’s reign on earth. These dedicated people met together monthly as a large group and more frequently in smaller groups to work through the details of creating a new organization. These gatherings resulted in a clarification of foundational beliefs, school philosophy and policies. God’s continued blessing upon this school community has been evident in a remarkable unity in vision and thought.
Once the groundwork was prepared, financial donors helped to lay a solid economic foundation for the school. Our first two years of classes were held at First Christian Church in Kent. For our first year, God provided Cornerstone with a teacher experienced in every facet of the type of education the school espouses, and she directed the initial class of eight kindergarten/first grade students during the 1995-96 school year. Cornerstone has since grown according to plan to accommodate a new grade level during each successive year, and we now offer grades K-6.
As we approach the future, Cornerstone Community School intends to be a learning organization, preparing students to meet the challenges of a fast-paced, constantly changing world. We are confident that the Lord Jesus Christ is indeed our Cornerstone, and we will endeavor to build faithfully upon that foundation as we grow and change. We will seek to honor the Lord in all we do as a school community, serving the families and children with whom God has entrusted us.
