• Our History
  • History: 1979-1989
  • History: 1990-1999
  • History: 2000-Present
• Board of Directors
• Central Office Staff
• Network Schools
• Network Schools Directory
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• Network Church Directory
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1979-1980

• A successor of the Pine Rest Children’s Retreat, the Christian Learning Center, sponsored by the Grand Rapids Christian School Association, opened its doors with an Exceptional Needs program in the fall of 1979 on the campus of Seymour Christian School. Steve Timmermans was the first administrator.
• Verna Bonnema, Dorothy Dyk and Char Veenstra were the original teaching staff with Pam Steenstra as an Activity Aide. Thirty-one students attended daily.
• Doug Bouman joined as School Psychologist, creating a testing and evaluation program.
• Louise Sonderfan was the administrative assistant.
• The Christian Foundation for Handicapped Children pledged to raise money to aid families in need of financial assistance. Cost per student was $3,300.
• Christian Reformed and Reformed churches were asked for financial support through Classis-approved special offerings.
• Annual budget was $110,615.

1980-1981

• CLC Resource Rooms began at Sylvan, Hudsonville and Jenison Christian schools.
• Phil Stegink and Joan VanderBand were traveling Resource Room teachers.
• The CLC Endowment Fund was established.
• Annual budget was $169,105.

1981-1982

• R. H. “Bear” Berends replaced Steve Timmermans as Executive Director.
• Greg Yoder joined the CLC staff as an Exceptional Needs teacher.
• Oakdale Christian added a CLC Resource Room.
• Students being served by CLC totaled 129 in all areas (Exceptional Needs and Resource Rooms).
• Annual budget was $220,220.

1982-1983

• Students were transported to CLC at Seymour Christian from as far as Zeeland, Wayland, Dorr, Lowell and Caledonia.
• Student-teacher ratio was 8:1. Two additional teachers and an aide joined the staff, totaling eight teachers, one administrator, one school psychologist and one aide.
• 44 students were enrolled in the Exceptional Needs program, with two on the waiting list.
• Grandville Christian opened its CLC Resource Room.
• Annual budget was $303,000.

1983-1984

• Calvin College Student Senate hosted a four-mile “Fund Run” to raise $6,500 for CLC’s summer school program.
• King’s Choraliers benefit concert was held.
• The CLC Parent Group held its 1st annual auction at the Auction House in Cutlerville, raising $5,029.
• The Exceptional Needs Program enrollment stood at 46 students.
• Annual budget was $369,758.

1984-1985

• CLC Resource Rooms expanded services at Unity, Calvin Christian and West Side Christian Schools.
• 14 teachers, one administrator and one secretary were on staff.
• Steve Timmermans returned to CLC as a School Psychologist to aid Doug Bouman with testing and evaluation services.
• CLC grew to be a comprehensive regional special education program serving 25 Christian schools and approximately 250 children.
• Annual budget was $438,960.

1985-1986

• Barb Newman joined the CLC staff in the Exceptional Needs program.
• The Christian Learning Center incorporated  and the CLC Constitution and By-laws were written.
• CLC’s Vocational Training Program began at 833 Nevada, a house behind Seymour Christian School purchased by the CLC Parent Group.
• Zeeland Christian and Cutlerville Christian added CLC Resource Rooms.
• Annual budget was $697,912.

1986-1987

• The Seymour Christian Exceptional Needs Program totaled 56 students.
• Resource Rooms were operating in Byron Center, Calvin Christian (Godwin), Creston-Mayfield, Cutlerville, Grand Rapids Christian High, Grandville, Hudsonville, Jenison, Millbrook, Oakdale, Seymour, Sylvan, Unity, West Side, and Zeeland Christian schools.
• Annual budget was $815,824.

1987-1988

• The CLC Parent Group paid off the mortgage on the VTP house at 833 Nevada.
• Drenthe CRC donated and installed central air conditioning in the VTP house.
• CLC Parent Group funded hiring of a Speech Pathologist.
• CLC joined the Council of Reformed Charities.
• The Exceptional Needs Program enrolled 63 students at the Seymour Christian School campus.
• Annual budget was $979,058.

1988-1989

• The CLC Board of Directors approved the construction of three classrooms and one office-evaluation room on the campus of Zeeland Christian School for the Ottawa County Christian Special Education Program.
• A feasibility study for a campaign to finance the Zeeland Christian project and some renovation at the Seymour Christian campus began.
• CLC’s VTP program developed into a community-based, job placement program.
• 64 students were enrolled in the Exceptional Needs Program at Seymour Christian.
• The CLC Endowment Fund balance was $29,134.
• CLC programs reached to over 500 students age 4-26 within four major programs: Exceptional Needs, Resource Rooms, Vocational Training, and Evaluation and Counseling.
• Annual budget was $1,096,840.