A new girls dormitory could be in the plans for Oakdale Christian Academy in the not-too-distant future, says OCA President Dan Fisher.

That announcement was made Tuesday afternoon before Former Governor Paul Patton spoke to students, family and other local residents during a special program on campus.

In making the reference to the proposed new facility, Fisher used the building the program was held in - the gymnasium in the Beacon Center - as an example of achieving a long-time goal. “Hopefully, we’ll be building a new girls’ dormitory. It’ll take a lot of work, and it will take a lot of funding. But this building was once a dream, and look where we are today.”

Plans have been drawn up for the two-story building that will house 40 students, and would replace the present girls’ dorm, O’Connor Hall. While pictures of an earlier design by the building’s architect, Judd Hubbard of Hubbard Architecture in Mount Sterling were shown, Fisher said a newer design will be used, and just wanted to whet the appetites of those attending the Patton speech to the project. Hubbard is no stranger to OCA, having been the architect for the Beacon Center. That building was dedicated in October 2005.

In describing the school’s plans for a new girls’ dorm, Fisher told the crowd that recent improvements have rejuvenated OCA. “Oakdale’s come from the brink of closing, like what we faced back in the 80’s. Since the past ten years, we’ve strengthened our physical plant. We have city water now, a new $300,000 waste water treatment plant, and a new staff housing duplex. And this building, the Beacon Center, is testament to our comeback.”