The school’s sponsoring church, First Assembly of God in Smithfield, will gather Sunday as a congregation to talk about the school’s future.

“The congregation will meet to discuss this Sunday,” said Richard Noble, a pastor at First Assembly. “Nothing has been decided until that point.”

Noble would not comment further, and he directed additional questions to Jim Byrd, chairman of the church’s board of directors. Byrd could not be reached for contact before press time.

John Floyd, a former principal at JCA, said the church board had already voted to close the school, and he called Sunday’s congregational meeting a “formality.” Noble would not elaborate on the steps thus far taken by the board, but emphasized that no decision had been made.

Floyd said the school had accumulated $40,000 in debt and was unable to sustain the enrollment it needed. “The school was hit hard by the changes in the economy,” he said.

He said he retired in April after the church board told him he would be replaced this summer.

According to Noble, enrollment at the school is about 100, with around 30 staff members.