Supporters of Lyons Elementary School hold up signs during a Dec. 20, 2012, Tucson Unified School District Governing Board special meeting at Catalina Magnet High School. The TUSD Governing Board voted to close Lyons.

A Christian church will take over about one-third of the old Lyons Elementary School after the TUSD Governing Board approved a five-year lease agreement for the east side site.

Starting in January, Calvary Christian Fellowship East will pay $37,500 a year, although rent will be waived the first year as the church will be making repairs and preparing the building for occupancy.

Though the church is only leasing 12,500 square feet, it intends to return to the governing board in the future with a request to expand.

Since it began operating in 1999, Calvary Christian Fellowship has rented space from various Tucson schools for weekly Sunday services and mid-week activities.

Having a permanent space of its own will allow the church to expand its community services.

As is normally the case with TUSD leases of closed campuses, the church is prohibited from forming a charter school on site, 7555 E. Dogwood Street.


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Contact reporter Alexis Huicochea at ahuicochea@tucson.com or 573-4175. On Twitter: @AlexisHuicochea