PORT ANGELES — The Olympic Christian School Board has decided to keep the small, private Port Angeles high school open through at least the 2010-2011 school year.

“We are committed to keeping a Christian high school here in the community,” Principal Brian Clark said Thursday of the Monday vote.

He said it would not have been possible without gifts from Independent Bible Church and other donors.

“The economic reality is pretty pressing these days,” Clark said.

“We will be scaling back at the upper campus to make this viable.”

Target enrollment

Board members set an enrollment target of 18 students ­– the current enrollment for grades nine through 12 — for next school year.

In past years, the high school has had between 40 and 50 students.

“Online classes and staffing changes will allow us to remain solvent,” Clark said.

Service cuts will be made, but Clark didn’t know what they would be yet.

Olympic Christian School’s high school, middle school and preschools are located at Independent Bible Church, 116 Ahlvers Road.

The elementary school and administrative offices are located at 43 O’Brien Road east of Port Angeles.

There is ongoing discussion about whether to move the middle school to the O’Brien campus.

New instrumental music classes are being added for all grades on both campuses.

Last month, the School Board decided to examine options that might keep the private school afloat.

Olympic Christian School opened in September 1992. The school Web site is www.ocsweb.org.

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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.