HISTORY OF SPRING VALE ACADEMY

THE CHURCH AND THE SCHOOL 

THE CHURCH is very much like a nation, with its resources in material and men.  In the world, nations advance in proportion to the development and use they make of these resources.  This also holds true in the success and progress of the church, where the resources or talents of our people...ability to preach, teach, do missionary work, and also as farmers, mechanics, etc., are properly developed... progress will be seen.  The purpose of Spring Vale Academy was to help accomplish this end.  

The site of Spring Vale Academy of the Church of God Seventh Day is located on State Highway M-47 at Bennington Road, five miles south of Owosso, Michigan.  Christian Education is the way to a more progressive Gospel Work.

INTRODUCTION  

For several years members of the Church of God, and other interested Sabbath keepers, had been working on a plan for a Christian School to be located in the State of Michigan.  As the plan developed, a "Michigan Fellowship Movement of the Churches of God" came into being and the little paper, "Michigan News and Activities of the Church of God (7th Day)" was issued.  A fellowship committee was elected and this committee was later chosen to be the School Board of Directors and the incorporators of the school.  It was decided to locate the school in the central part of Michigan and accordingly a site was sought near Owosso.  The leading hand of God was clearly evident in the obtaining of the site.  The land is well located.  The buildings already on the property are such that they can be temporarily used for the school.  The plans are that on part of the campus, new school buildings will be built.  There are already building materials on the land which include timber, sand and gravel. 

The site for the school is a functional farm located five miles from Owosso,  Shiawassee County, Michigan.  The physical address of the school is 4150 South M-47, Owosso, Michigan.  The farm was purchased at the cost of $15,250 in 1946 and reduced to $11,000.  The remaining balance is set up on monthly payments of $400 a year plus interest of 5%.  The proposed school name is Spring Vale Academy, because several springs feed a creek which flows year around through the central part of the farm.  

 The institution was incorporated and the Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws were established.  The name of this corporation is Spring Vale Academy of the Church of God (Seventh Day).  The purpose of this corporation was to establish, conduct, and maintain a school or schools, to provide a Christian education for all interested and worthy young people.  The plan was to offer a four year high school course of study, and grant a diploma for the successful completion of the course.  

The corporation was organized upon a non-stock or non-share basis.  The amount of assets which said corporation possesses was:  Real Property: $4,000.00 and was invested toward the purchase of 146 1/2 acres of farm land located in Bennington Township, Shiawassee County, Michigan.  The personal property was Farm Equipment valued at $100.00.  This was for September of 1946 and has since continued to increase.  The said corporation was to be financed under a general plan:  Contributions, tuition, and the operation of a farm and industries. 

The names of the incorporators and where their place of residence or business is located are as follows:  
A.E. Lidell, Ypsilanti, Michigan - President of the Board
Floyd A. Turner, Owosso, Michigan - Vice President
Clarence W. Wilkinson, Freeland, Michigan - Secretary-Treasurer
Tiemen DeWind, Owosso, Michigan - Board Member 
W.H. Spencer, Freeland, Michigan - Board Member.  
These men are also the first Board of Directors of the school.  Stanley J. Kauer was appointed by the Board as Principal of Spring Vale Academy.  He was asked to move from Oregon to Michigan to help develop the school work.  

The term of this corporation was fixed at an indefinite number of years.  The members of the corporation may elect an advisory board  at any annual business meeting.  Signed by the incorporators, September 9, 1946.  Accepted and filed by the Michigan Corporation and Securities Commission, November 7, 1946  (these articles follow a form specified by the state.)  

This was a special opportunity for several young men and young women.  Even after the money was raised and equipment purchased,  pay to the workers for the remodeling of the farm house, the school would still need workers to do the work.  Several young people were needed to come to the school and work in the summer.  They would receive room and board and pay to apply to their expenses during the school year.  The school needed workers to help build walls, install the bathrooms, and help on the farm.  They needed young women to help cook, to help care for the vegetable gardens, can fruit and vegetables, and possibly also help do interior painting.  The corporation asked if any young women and men were interested in any of those position, to write to them at once.  The VISTOC program was established in later years to help the school with workers. 

There was a need for consecrated qualified teachers for the success of Spring Vale Academy.  The number of teachers to be employed would depend on the number of class-rooms that were established in the farm house, the number of students enrolled and the funds available for salaries.  There were quite a number of members of the Church of God (7th Day) who were at present engaged in teaching or have had recent teaching experience.  Several already expressed an interest in the development of the school.  One such couple was my great uncle and aunt,  Elder Charles Adams and his wife, Eileen Marrs Adams.  Their son Frank Adams attended Spring Vale and graduated in 1950. 

A letter was sent out by a school principle in Colorado:  here is part of it:  "Having spent over twenty years in the public schools, both grade and high, I am convinced that if we are to get real Christian Education for our youth, it must come from schools sponsored by Christian organizations.  This will make it possible to have an environment conductive to the imparting of Christian ideals without so many of the hinderances that lead youth away from such ideals."   ...Curn A. Gilchrist, High School Principal in Colorado.  

The Board of Directors felt sure that many other teachers among them were only awaiting the information on how to apply to the school.  Here is part of the letter that was sent out:  "We would like to hear from all who are high school teachers with the possibility of coming to teach at Spring Vale.  Your expression of interest will be an encouragement and you may be able to give helpful advice.  

This is the purposed cost to students to attend Spring Vale Academy.  Tuition will be made on the basis of the number of units for school work taken.  A flat entrance fee will be set at a very low cost, then tuition at a low fee per unit.  The projected four units of work and tuition would be approximately $20.00 a month.  Boarding in dorms, good nourishing meals, and a place to sleep would be included.  It was hoped the farm would produce most of the food on the school farm and the charge for board would be as low as possible.  The exact charges will be announce later.  Dormitory facilities remain to be arranged and they will not be at first as convenient as might be desired, however, there will be comfortable beds, ample space for clothing, and modern bathrooms.  The students will buy their own text books and school supplies.  However there will not be any extra fees for any of the studies.  Wages for the student labor will be figured as a reasonable rate and after one hour per day is figured as part of the cost, the remaining work credit will be subtracted from the monthly charge.  Every effort will be made to help all worthy students to meet the expenses of attending the Academy.  Feel free to write us about any problems. 

 

SCHOOL BUILDINGS 

It is planned to use the large house, located on the farm for dormitories and classrooms in the beginning.  The house is a large, well built frame structure, which with a little remodeling can be adapted to use as classrooms and dormitories.  The kitchen and dining room are large and will be suitable for the same use in the school.  On the first floor, it is proposed four rooms be used as classrooms...the two large front rooms, the glassed-in porch, and part of the time the dining room.  The second floor will be used as a dormitories.  The house has a large hot-air furnace with automatic blower.  It has a water system, and modern bathrooms will be installed.  Separate dormitories for boys and girls will be provided.  As soon as materials are available at a reasonable cost, and funds are raised, remodeling of the farm house will take place.   

Northwest of the farm buildings there is high ground where the permanent buildings that are planned to be built, will be facing Bennington Road.  A beautiful campus can be developed.  It is planned teachers and students will help in planning and construction   Families who may desire to locate in the vicinity, or young married couples who may wish to have living quarters while attending the school are urged to write to the Board of Directors, who will be glad to give all the information available.  

Rules and Regulations were adopted.  A daily program was established.  On the Sabbath regular services will be held in the school chapel.  These will probably include sundown vesper service, evening preaching, Sabbath School and preaching service closing the Sabbath.  Other special meeting maybe also held on the Sabbath, including Ministerial Seminar, Colporteur Group, and a Missionary Group etc.  Saturday night is the usual time for a recreational program of some type.  Such programs are planned and prepared by students under the direction of one or more members of the faculty.  The Christian associations and activities outside the classroom are especially valuable in the development of character, ability and leadership.  

In the booklet there is a list of curriculum, location, plans for industries, the farm, building materials, factory, and domestic work.  The school is set up to be partly self sufficient in the growing of food, and work for those wanting to come and help with building of the school.  The courses of study to be offered the first year cannot be given exactly as much will depend needs and desires of the students, the number of students, teachers, and facilities available.  

However, there is a list of each grade 9th through 12th, and what courses will be offered to each grade.  Here are some elective courses that will be offered:  Prophetic History, outline study of Ancient History compared with the Bible Prophecy;  A study of Hebrew and Jewish history both before and after the time of Christ; Advanced Public Speaking and Journalism, a study of religious journalism, the organization and preparation of religious papers and magazines.  There also will be Electives and Vocational Courses.  A full study load will consist of four subjects, first three required the fourth an elective.  

Vocational Courses may be offered when equipment and teachers are available which includes studies such as:  Printing, Machine work, Wood work, Home Economics, cooking, sewing, child care and homemaking.  While the school is getting started, some courses may be given one year and others the next.  Other courses may be given if there are enough students desiring them and if teacher and equipment is available.  When the new school building is built, it will contain a Science Laboratory and more science courses will then be offered.  

Each regular course will give one Unit of credit for a full school year or one half unit for a semester.  Sixteen Units are required for graduation from the Academic course.  Mature students, who are not interested in a diploma but who desires to choose courses for preparation for ministerial work, or general educational improvements, may choose any of the courses listed irrespective of grade designation.  The faculty will advise all students in the selection of their studies and an effort be made to help each student choose the subjects which he is able to take and which will be most helpful to him, whether he wants to become a minister or for general educational improvements.   

There have been good years, then some lean years almost to the point of the closing of the school.  Finally a decision was made for the school to become a private school open to grades k thru 12th.  It became independent of the Church to become independent so the school could apply for grants.  Spring Vale Academy is now Spring Vale Christian School and opened to the public for grades k-12.  For a year or so the school no longer offered boarding.  The dormitories were turned into class rooms.  But starting a year or so ago, the school offers dormitories for boarding again.  Also at one point, during the summer, some buildings were rented out to help with the financial needs of the school.  The Sabbath and doctrinal beliefs of the Church of God (Seventh Day) are still taught and upheld at Spring Vale Christian School.  For those who truly still want Christian basics and bible course studies as well as room and board for those who want to attend from other states, Please donate money or time to help the school stay open.  

posted by *Starlight*

Information for this article was taken from a booklet composed and published for the upcoming Celebration of the Schools years of operation this coming September 2026.