Boy's gift helps keep school alive

Yes, little David Mitchell, even in a cold, cruel world inhabited by bickering Republicans and Democrats, a 7-year-old's faith can be rewarded.

Two weeks ago, we learned about how young David gave all the money he had in the world — $4.20, or the cost of a gallon-and-a-fraction of gas — to the effort to save the Meridian School.

Call it the boy's mite.

Better yet, call it a Mighty Mite.

The private school that had been a Provo landmark for 18 years had suffered financially for most of that time and the board of directors had called for an end.

Either raise $293,000 in two weeks, by today, or the doors would be locked and the windows shuttered.

Well, Meridian will throw open the doors and windows again next fall.

"We're going to make it," board vice chairman David Warnick said. "We have raised $232,000 and another $60,000 has been pledged by teachers who have come forward and said, 'Forgo my paycheck for the next three months."'

The board doesn't want to reach its goal that way, so it hopes to replace those pledges with additional donations by the 5 p.m. deadline.

"Teachers have always been the last line of defense at private schools, but we don't want them playing that role," Warnick said. "We want them to play the role of teacher.

"We've hit the goal. The board will not be closing down Meridian. But now we're trying to hit it in a way where teachers aren't having to make that kind of contribution."

One donor is raising the bar, offering to match every dollar raised beyond the $293,000 goal.

Meridian will leave its home on 900 East in Provo by June. The LDS Church owns the building and is expected to tear it down quickly and build a church.

Young David and the rest of the Meridian students will take up temporary quarters across the street from Orem High School at what is now the Liahona Preparatory Academy.

Stronger financial footing increases the likelihood Meridian will be able to build a new school on land it has purchased on 2000 South in Orem.

The Liahona building has room for 240 students. So far, 125 students have enrolled for Meridian's next school year. Meridian needs 193 students to break even on its new, tighter, more fiscally responsible and sustainable budget.

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