Christ Bridge Academy has rescinded a request to temporarily lease the old Jennings Elementary School while it moves forward on plans to build a new Academy.

“Christ Bridge Academy understands that the efforts from both parties to find a win-win situation was much more difficult than we previously expected, therefore Christ Bridge Academy rescinds the proposal to occupy Jeff Davis Parish vacant properties for the school year,” Christ Bridge Academy Principal and Founder Dr. Scott Blanchard said in addressing the Jeff Davis Parish School Board on Thursday.

He said the Academy will continue to partner with the School Board to utilize the old James Ward Elementary School gym for volleyball and basketball activities.

The Academy currently rents the gym for its athletic events.

Blanchard asked the School Board earlier this month to allow the private Christian school to lease the vacant Jennings Elementary School for a year while the Academy prepared to build a new school in Acadia Parish.

The Academy was previously located in the Sowela Technical Community College campus on North Main Street in Jennings.

The American Press has learned that Christ Bridge Academy was evicted from its former location and is being sued by Sowela for failing to pay $65,640 in unpaid rent and utilities.

After the meeting Blanchard said the lawsuit was in the process of being settled.

Blanchard said the Academy was offered three local properties to relocate its school following Tuesday’s meeting and has put a down payment on an unnamed religious-type facility in Jennings.

Blanchard said the building will only require some cosmetic changes before the school can move-in. He anticipates opening at the location on Sept. 5, once the paperwork is complete.

In the meantime, Blanchard said the school is still moving forward with plans to build a new pre-kindergarten-12th grade school on a six-and-a-half acre site on LA 97. The new school is expected to take two years to complete.