Open Door Christian Schools break ground on new gym

ELYRIA — Open Door Christian Schools took its largest step so far in its ongoing plan to reinvent itself for its 50th anniversary, as school and city officials broke ground Thursday on the school's new $8.5 million gymnasium. The new gymnasium is a central piece of the "OCDS 2.0, More for His Glory" plan to expand and renovate its campus in west Elyria. The school is currently in the first of four phases for that project, and the new gymnasium is the linchpin of that opening phase. Open Door President Denver Daniels said that the school has already carried out some renovations for the first phase, but that the new gym would be the first true expansion of the master plan. Hundreds of students were on hand to cheer on the groundbreaking and loudly thank the donors and partners who made the project possible. "We give thanks and celebrate our Lord for 50 years of faithfulness for the staff who have taught with dedication," Daniels said at the ceremony. "We give thanks for our students, both those here today and the alumni that came before you, many of those alumni who gave to this project. We give thanks and celebrate our donors. Together they gave more than $8.5 million to make this gymnasium a reality. That deserves a round of applause… All of that is the Lord bringing together to do something for you." Daniels thanked the city for its support of the project, along with funding partner Buckeye Bank and construction contractor J.L. Moore Inc. of North Olmsted. School Board Vice Chairman Joe Flinner led the crowd in a prayer, and then Annie Carstarphen-Cheeseboro, executive assistant to Elyria Mayor Kevin Brubaker, read a statement on the mayor's behalf. Carstarphen-Cheeseboro is also a member of the Elyria school board. "Growth does not happen by accident," Carstarphen-Cheeseboro said, reading from Brubaker's statement. "It requires bold leadership and tireless commitment to a shared mission. I want to personally thank the board of directors – that is what Mayor Brubaker said – for their prayerful stewardship, strategic vision and deep investment in the future of our students." The K-12 student population of Open Door was more than 820 students in 2025, with about half of them coming from the city of Elyria and most of the rest coming from other communities in Lorain County. A small number of students also come from surrounding counties. Daniels said on Thursday that he was hopeful the gym would be complete by the winter of 2027 so that the school could play its home basketball games in the new facility during the next school year, adding "no pressure to J.L. Moore." When Daniels shared the master plan with The Chronicle last year, he said that the new gymnasium would feature 800 seats and four locker rooms. It is located to the northeast of the existing church and school building and will be connected to the school campus by a hallway. Last year, Elyria City Council voted to reduce the fees Open Door Schools would have to pay for its plan review and permit fees for phase one of the project, something the city also did when Elyria Catholic High School expanded several years ago. The city also worked with the school to upgrade sewer lines that would be needed for the expansion. Councilwoman Donna Mitchell, D-6th Ward, represents the area including Open Door, and her son also attended the school. "I am excited for the expansion and looking forward to seeing where Open Door grows from here," Mitchell said. "My son started here in 3rd grade and he went all the way through 12(th grade), so I have seen the growth of the school. I did a tour during the summer and it is totally different." Daniels said that the project, like the school's history, was driven by the Bible verse Colossians 3:17, "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." "Not only does Colossians 3:17 share that we ought to give thanks, but there is a challenge there as well," he said. "It also says that we are to do everything in the name of our Lord Jesus. That means the way we play basketball and volleyball, the way we sit in the stands, the way we conduct ourselves at every event. It's true that we are going to be playing the same sports as others. We will attend the same events as others. But here at Open Door Christian Schools we have an underlying distinct and different purpose, and it is to glorify God." Contact Owen MacMillan at 440-329-7123 or omacmillan@chroniclet.com.