"With Help and Support" PCA Still Stands

Ron Bailey, Publisher

Community efforts secure at least this school year, and very possibly much more, for Camp Springs, MD institution.

October 28, 2009 - News hit the DC area Progressive Christian Academy was in dire straits; the private school in Camp Springs, MD was reported to be near foreclosure; in danger was not only the school but its grounds accompanying church as well. The institution's teachers, students and personnel were more or less in a holding pattern, waiting for the ax to drop, kind of like one may wait for the guillotine.

Don't count the institution and it's people out yet!

"We're locked in for the year, and possibly many more to come" said the school's Director of Basketball Operations, Renard Phillips today via telephone, when asked the current state of affairs. "We've been putting things in place to make sure it happens".

Brandon Jenkins, a prep player from Arizona, will not have to return home.

Is it simply a year-long reprieve, or will the doors stay open going forward?

"There's a 75-80% chance of that (remaining operational beyond this school calendar) " responded Phillips, in his first year at the school.

This change in fate has occurred because of recent coverage, according to Phillips: "With the help and support of the community the publicity has turned into some positive things...Nobody wanted to see the kids let down".

Though Phillips was referencing all of PCA's student body, his basketball players - JV, varsity and prep teams - are obviously ecstatic in what's happened. All the squads start play soon, with the prep unit taking the floor at PCA this weekend via its 3rd Annual Maryland Prep Shootout, while the school's varsity crew jumps the season off in Texas November, 26th-28th.

As the saying goes, things have a way of working out.