The new owners of Clay Central/Everly's former 7-12 grade school building plan to give the facility a new purpose in a variety of ways.

Guardian Education and Athletic Services (GEA) outlined their intentions in a business plan submitted to the school board and Everly City Council in July. According to the seven-page document, the firm plans to create a "post-secondary program aimed at athletes who wish to continue their athletic careers while continuing their education."

"What separates GEA from regular community colleges or universities is that many of the students we will work to attract are not currently achieving the ACT/SAT scores, GPA or class rank to gain enrollment to many collegiate programs," stated the business plan summary. "Some of these students will be dealing with learning disabilities while some will be due more to circumstances such as a difficult home environment, the need to help support their families while in school, etc."

GEA was also interested in a closed school in Battle Creek, but ultimately decided CC/E's building was the right choice. The facility has sat empty since June of 2019 after the school board voted to cease offering grades 7-12 due to dwindling enrollment and financial uncertainties.

Once operational, GEA's program will be tuition based and hopes to partner with community colleges so students can take on-campus or online courses. Educational support and tutoring will be offered as well as athletic training in the student's desired sport.

"The advantage for students to attend GEA is individual training and academic support," states the business plan summary. "They will accelerate at a faster pace than their counterparts who are on a school team due to this individual attention on their particular needs."

GEA plans to have a "soft opening" with around 10 students for the spring 2021 semester. A "hard opening" would following in the fall of 2021 with between 36-60 students, and if capacity goals are met within the first year of operation, "the next goal would include expansion of facilities and staff to accommodate up to 100 students per year."

Founding member Brent Koppie told the CC/E school board last week that interest in GEA's program has been high, especially since the group hasn't launched any marketing campaigns yet.

"The response so far has been pretty incredible as far as the enthusiasm level from people that are looking at coming," he said.

According to GEA's business plan summary, wrestling, mixed martial arts, soccer and baseball will be offered with planned growth to include additional sports later on. Plans also state GEA's long-term goal is to eventually host competitive sporting events at whichever location it selects.

"As it is well known that college-level athletics attract large crowds, this increased traffic will benefit local businesses and hopefully encourage the opening of additional businesses to accommodate the need," stated the business plan summary. "In addition, the increased traffic and participation of these school events will bring name recognition to the community."

According to a previous interview with Koppie, students will be onsite at the Everly building. Various additions like a sprinkler system and other upgrades will need to be completed before the soft opening, he said.

GEA got its start from a "current, successful gym" that's been operational for nearly three years. Individuals who helped found GEA include Daryl Dotson, JJ Cassaro, Brent Koppie and Mike Bushby.