28 February, 2003
Dakar, Senegal

Dear Parents,

Life and ministry for many of us has changed since the coup in Cote d’Ivoire. But as you know there are certain responsibilities that don’t change. Being a member of the ICA School Board is one of them. Since the coup, the future of ICA has been in the thoughts, prayers and planning of the school board.

After meetings in the US, the school board saw the need to meet with interested parties in Dakar, where so many of our students are finishing this school year. From February 24 to 26 the school board met with mission representatives and the ICA administration to discuss the needs of MK education in West Africa and the role of ICA. The input received during these meetings confirmed to the school board the Lord’s leading in the decisions that were made.

We are aware that you are as anxious as your students to know what these decisions are regarding the coming year and the future of ICA. The following is the announcement that the school board made to students, staff and parents after much listening, prayer, and deliberation.

SCHOOL BOARD ANNOUNCEMENT of 2/28/03

Our hearts our filled with gratitude to God as we look back over the past five months. The events in Cote d’Ivoire during September 2002 took us all by surprise. And God’s faithfulness in seemingly impossible situations has been proven over and over, first in his protection of staff and students during the coup and evacuation, then in his wonderful provision of an education for so many of our students on African soil. As a school board we wish to express our heartfelt thanks to the Dakar Academy school board, administration, staff, and students for all they have done to welcome our ICA “refugees”.

From the time of the evacuation, the school board has been praying, meeting and seeking counsel as we have sought God’s direction for not only the 2003-2004 school year but for the future of ICA. After meetings in the U.S. and much communication, we felt it very important to meet with major stakeholders in Africa. We want to express our thanks to all those who gave of their time, wisdom, and finances to meet and share their insights with the school board during the meetings of February 24-26 in Dakar. The counsel the school board has received from godly men and women both in the U.S. and Africa has enabled the board to reach a decision by consensus that we believe to be of the Lord’s leading to position ICA to effectively meet the future needs of MK education in West Africa.

The decision of the school board is that ICA will not hold or sponsor classes or dorms for the 2003-2004 school year [at any locations]. This does not eliminate the possibility of non-ICA sponsored classes being held on the campus during that time. Throughout this year, ICA staff will be doing a variety of things to reposition ICA for the future. We regret that ICA does not have the financial and staff resources to both meet the educational needs of students for 2003-2004 in a temporary location and position ICA strategically for the future. We are trusting God to work to allow the reopening of the Bouake campus for the 2004-2005 school year and are investing our resources to that end.

We covet your prayers for Cote d’Ivoire and all involved in preparing for the future of ICA.

We regret the inconvenience that these decisions may cause you, but ICA cannot meet the immediate needs of the students for the 2003-2004 school year and be well positioned for the future. Pray with us that the security situation will allow for the reopening of the campus for the 2004-2005 school year. The following is a list of other educational opportunities available in West Africa for the coming year.

Dakar Academy
BP 3189
Dakar Senegal
Director Bruce Evans
director@dakar-academy.org

Sahel Academy
BP 10065
Niamey, Niger
Director Timothy Smith
sahel@sahel.sim.ne

We are praying that the Lord will provide for the educational needs of your children for the coming school year, and we look forward to partnering with you in your children’s education in the future.

ICA School Board

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