Parents, teachers from shuttered Evangel Heights still waiting for reimbursements

The closing of Evangel Heights Christian Academy in Buffalo Township has parents and teachers wondering when — or whether — they will get back money owed to them by the school.

Most of the academy’s staff of about 15 still are awaiting paychecks, and staff and parents alike have complained about the lack of communication from Evangel Heights administrators.

Evangel Heights pastor of education Nate Watkins said school officials have been advised by their attorney, David York, not to comment. In a statement from Watkins provided by York, school administrators are asking for patience from their former school family.

“We are working diligently to see that everyone who is owed money is repaid as soon as possible, and we appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding,” Watkins’ statement said.

York confirmed that Evangel Heights Christian Academy is not filing for bankruptcy.

“My husband has stopped (at EHCA) three times to talk with anyone to get answers to our many questions, and nobody answered,” said parent Kerri Bittinger of Kiski Township. “My husband has tried calling numerous times, but nobody answers the phone.”

A phone call placed by a Tribune-Review reporter to the Evangel Heights school office was met with a voice mailbox that is unable to accept additional messages.

Former Evangel Heights art teacher Marie Hilty of West Leechburg said the school owes her two paychecks that were due July 15 and 30. She described her teaching experience at EHCA as “one of the best experiences and biggest blessings” in her life.

“I have tried to contact the school by email and phone to find out the status of payroll and how they plan on communicating with us since we were originally notified (of the closing) with staff emails.”

Hilty said she did get an emailed response from the school but it didn’t contain any specifics on when or how the back payments would be made.

Watkins said via York that he is working diligently on a “backlog” of emails and phone calls and will return them.

Hilty said receiving the news of the closing via email July 23 was “handled with no tact or consideration” by school administrators.

Hilty said communication from administrators has been “nonexistent” since then.

“My heart breaks for all of the EHCA families and staff who were displaced and scattered. The stress that has been placed in everyone, both emotionally and financially, could have been lessened had the church/school been completely transparent from the start.”

Awaiting tuition reimbursement

Evangel Heights’ school website has been taken down and some parents of students are still awaiting tuition and fee reimbursements.

Some of the staff have been paid and most of the tuition reimbursements have been made, according to York.

“The school fees (to some families) are outstanding, and the staff is working diligently to get them paid,” York said.

Tuition at EHCA had ranged from $4,500 to $5,100 per student, depending on grade level, according to Watkins.

Evangel Heights 2018 graduate Devin Anthony said he wasn’t surprised to hear of his alma mater’s closing.

“I’m not shocked, as EHCA was always known to have (money) issues. … I am upset the monies haven’t all been refunded. I’d say, by now, EHCA has lost the trust needed to handle thousands of dollars in reimbursements properly. I hope they realize the longer they wait to handle all of these money issues, the more questions it’s raising.”

Anthony noted that the elimination of the annual Evangel Heights high school musical, due to a lack of funds, was a red financial flag to him.

Evangel Heights Church financed 40% of the school’s operating costs last year, according to Watkins.

For now, the Bittinger family waits to receive their re-enrollment and book fee reimbursements.

“A lot of tears have been shed, a lot of anger, a lot of headaches, heartbreak, anger and confusion,” Bittinger said. “What happened? Don’t we deserve answers?”

Enrolling in other schools

The school’s closing left affected families scrambling to find new schools for their children.

The K-12 school opened in 1990 and had 122 students registered for the upcoming school year — an all-time low, according to ECHA pastor and CEO Daniel Corfield.

EHCA had 17 graduates last school year, and Corfield cited a consistently declining enrollment and low finances as primary reasons for the closure.

Bittinger said she is “shocked, in complete disbelief and angry” over the closing.

“This summer, we were supposed to be looking at colleges, and now we are looking for a new (high) school for her to graduate from,” referencing her senior daughter, a EHCA student since sixth grade. “Teachers and families were blindsided by the closing. I am in complete disbelief of all that has recently happened and that she’s not going to graduate from EHCA.”

Bittinger’s daughter has since enrolled at Grace Christian School in Kittanning.

Harvest Baptist Academy in Harrison will welcome more than 70 new students this fall — the majority from the now-shuttered EHCA.

Only the kindergarten students will remain at Evangel Heights in conjunction with the on-site, church-run daycare and preschool.

“We have had a substantial increase in enrollment with the closing of EHCA,” said Harvest Baptist Church Pastor Charlie Rousey. “We are saddened to hear that they have closed.”

Harvest Baptist Academy opened in 1997 in Harrison, a few miles from the former EHCA campus in Buffalo Township.

Harvest Baptist’s enrollment is expected to hit about 240 this fall, according to Rousey, which he called a healthy enrollment.

About 10 to 12 former EHCA students have registered at Cheswick Christian Academy in Cheswick, according to Principal Todd Rosio.

“Our enrollment is definitely up due to EHCA closing,” he said. “I was surprised to hear of the closing. Any time a fellow Christian school closes down, it’s bad.”