Ellwood Christian set to move into Meadowview’s campus 

Meadowview Christian School’s former campus will continue to live on as a private school with the announcement that Ellwood Christian Academy is moving in. 

Ellwood Pastor Gary Crumm says the move is more of a merger, with many of the Meadowview students and teachers returning to attend what will now be called Ellwood Christian Academy at Meadowview. 

“Timing is everything,” Crumm said. “And we can’t overrule God’s timing and God’s purpose for everything.”  

When Meadowview decided to close its doors after 55 years, ending when this year’s seniors graduated earlier this month, Crumm realized that their campus “has amenities that we don’t have here that would fit well with what we are endeavoring to do.” 

Ellwood Pastor Gary Crumm said timing worked out perfectly for Ellwood to move from their current campus on Bell Road to use this Selma property to grow. 

Crumm also said that good fit starts with the founding of Meadowview Christian. “In 1970, Meadowview Christian School was founded on a Christian foundation. We just want to come in and build on that legacy they created 55 years ago.” 

It is also a full-circle experience for Meadowview. In 1998, there was a split at Meadowview that led to the establishment of Central Christian Academy. Crumm said he bought Central Christian in 2010 and changed the name to Ellwood Christian Academy. 

“God is putting us back together,” Crumm said, adding this move “is bigger than what we think it is,” referring to the combination of a traditionally black school and Meadowview, a traditionally white school. “This is what God wants us to do. Put our differences aside” and be one family, he said. 

“I know it’s God’s desire that we have an institution of learning that mirrors with Heaven will look like,” Crum said. 

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Ellwood will now have access to a football stadium, baseball field and softball field, which allows them to add more sports offerings. 

“At a time when many private schools are experiencing a decrease in enrollment, we are blessed that we are experiencing an increase in enrollment,” Crumm reported. He said currently there are 165 students “but that’s growing every day.” 

One way the student body of Ellwood will grow is “a lot of the students there (Meadowview) will remain a part of the student body.” Crumm also said “a lot of the teachers and staff will be staying aboard as well.” Because of this, he said this is more of a merger. “You can call it a merger of two Christian institutions.” 

In honor of the merger, Crumm said the name of the school will be Ellwood Christian Academy at Meadowview, although they will retain the Ellwood Eagle mascot. 

The school will be Pre-K3 through 12th grade and include sports under the Alabama High School Athletic Association. They will play 11-man football in the 1A category that includes teams like Keith High School. “So Keith High School gets to travel to Ellwood Stadium this year – we get to play them on our home turf,” he said. 

There will be many other sports, including girl’s flag football that will be sponsored by the Atlanta Falcons. He also added that there are plans for music education.

Crumm said he has been asked how he thinks merging Ellwood kids and Meadowview kids will work, “I said look, that’s not a problem to children.” He said, “This school is going to look like heaven whether y’all like it or not.” But he said the response is overwhelmingly positive. 

Crumm also said he and the staff are excited about this new direction.

Ellwood is hosting virtual open houses and information sessions. For more information, call the school office at 334-877-1581 or email ecaselma@buildup.work.