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WEBVTT REOPEN ITS DOORS AFTER CHRISTMAS BREAK, THE SCHOOL NEEDS TO RAISE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.MARCUS: THE IOWA CHRISTI ACADEMY SAYS ITS SHORT ABOUT 350,000 DOLLARS, THE RESULT OF LOWER ENROLLMENT, A CUT INTUITION TO CELEBRATE THE SCHOOL’S 20TH YEAR, AND A SHORTFALL IN FUND-RAISING. SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER JENNIFER COVIL TELLS US ALL OPTIONS ARE BEING CONSIDERED INCLUDING CLOSING THE SCHOOL. >> AND WEIGHS HEAVY ON EVERY MEMBER OF THE SCHOOL BOARD AND ON EVERY PARENT THAT ATTENDS HERE. MARCUS: THAT DOES NOT MEAN COVIL HAS GIVEN UP. SHE SAYS EVERY EFFORT TO RAI THE $350,000 WILL BE EXHAUSTED . SHE SAYS IF THE GOAL IS REACHED, IT WILL SET THEM ON THE PATH TO FINANCIAL WELL-BEING. >> WE NEED AN ON-RAMP IN ORDER TO CAST OUR NEW VISION. MARCUS FISH PLANS THAT INCLUDE TUITION RESTRUCTURING, ENDOWMENTS, GRANTS, RECRUITING AND RETAINING STUDENTS. IF FUNDING COMES THROUGH FOR THE REST OF THE SCHOOL YEAR -- >> I AM A HOPEFUL PERSON. MARCUS: HEADMASTER KEITH TOUCHTON ADMITS THE CURRENT FUNDING DEFICIT IS THE LARGEST THAT HE HAS SEEN, BUT HE STOPPED SHORT OF CALLING THE SITUATION DIRE. >> WE ALWAYS NEED THE SUPPORT NOT ONLY OF FAMILIES, BUT OUTSIDE DONORS, AS WELL. MARCUS: TOUCHTON IS CONFIDENT THE SCHOOL WILL BE OPEN THE REST OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR AND YEARS TO COME. CONFIDENCE THAT COMES BY PUTTING HIS TRUST IN A HIGHER POWER. WE BELIEVE THAT FAITH

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A metro school is in danger of closing at the end of the year due to financial troubles.School officials with the Iowa Christian Academy on Vine Street in West Des Moines said they need to raise $350,000 to open the school's doors after Christmas break.School board member Jennifer Covil said the budget shortage is the result of lower enrollment, a cut in tuition to celebrate the school's 20th year and a shortfall in fundraising."It weighs heavy," Covil said. "It weighs heavy on every member of the school board. It weighs heavy on every parent (whose child) attends here."Covil hasn't given up hope. She said the school will exhaust every effort to raise the funds and that, if the goal is reached, it will set them on the path to financial well-being."We need an on-ramp in order to cast our new vision," she said.Plans include tuition restructuring, endowments, grants and recruiting and retaining students -- if funding comes through for the rest of the school year.Headmaster Keith Touchton said the school's funding deficit is the largest he has seen, but he stopped short of calling the situation dire."We as a private school always need the support not only of our families, but outside donors," Touchton said.The headmaster said he is confident the school will be open the rest of this school year and years to come."We believe that faith, that belief, as you put it, is the foundation of everything we do," he said.The decision to close the school's doors will come before the students take their winter break.