About two years, Christopher Boyd, the executive pastor of Word of Faith Family Worship Cathedral in Austell, set out to make a donation to an area school. At the time, he had no idea the money would turn into a cross-curriculum project and point of pride for Lindley Middle School in Mableton.
The church, which includes the Riverside Epicenter arts and community facility, was marking its 25th anniversary, and Boyd reached out to several schools to see how they could use additional funds.
“We wanted to do several big projects in the community that would make an impact, and we wanted to partner with a school in the area,” he recalled. “I sent out an email to several principals, asking if they had an interest, and I got one response – from Lindley Middle.”
More school news: Cobb high school graduation rate remains steady as 8 schools see gains
The school’s principal sat down with Boyd and the two brainstormed. They hit on the idea of creating a school store that would sell spirit wear and supplies to students and staff.
“We thought it would also be a great way to teach business principles, inventory management, customer service skills and money management,” said Boyd. “And it was a way for students to see a project through from start to finish.”
Lindley’s approximately 1,000 students were asked to come up with design plans, and a local contractor took the top five ideas and put them into the final configuration. While construction was on-going, students tackled other aspects of running a business.
Raya Clarke, now a first-year student at Campbell High School, was one of the Lindley eighth graders whose store designs made the final cut.
“It turned into an assignment in math, English and social studies,” she said. “In social studies, we looked at the economics of a store; in language arts, we worked on advertising. And we figured measurements of the shelves and cases. We planned what merchandise to buy for the store, and we decided to have school-related things – water bottles, t-shirts, pencils.”
More school news: One school has 33 of Cobb's 85 National Merit semifinalists
Two weeks ago, the school unveiled the store, dubbed the Lindley EpiStore in honor of the church’s $10,000 donation. The space houses a POS system to track sales, large TV monitors display merchandise, an ice cream freezer full of treats and shelves stocked with Lindley gear, including bags, mugs, flash drives and pens, as well as teacher supplies such as poster board and markers.
Principal Dana Giles, who has led the school since June, said the store will be open in the mornings before school starts and on certain sale days. Students can use “Falcon bucks,” rewards they earn for various achievements, as well as cash to make purchases.
“It’s unusual to have this level of quality when most schools don’t even have the space for a store,” said Dana Giles, who took over as principal in June. “Many of them that have a store keep everything in a closet. This is such a gift. Lindley did not pay one dime for this, and that also makes it unique.”
Clarke, who was on hand for the grand opening, was also impressed. ‘“It was so new and shiny, and a bit futuristic,” she said. “I was really shocked and amazed by how it all came together.”
Information about Lindley Middle School: cobbk12.org/Lindley.
About the Author
