From one-room nineteenth-century schoolhouses to the sprawling post-war high schools of the mid-twentieth century, historic schools across Pennsylvania are threatened. The PHMC’s historic school buildings initiative includes resources that encourage the preservation and continued use of historic school buildings. Included here is online information on the following: 1) Why Historic Schools are Important; 2) Why are Historic Schools at Risk?; 3) A Brief History of Public Education Policy in the Keystone State; 4) Guidelines for School Rehabilitation and New Construction; 5) Rehabilitation Technical Assistance; 6) School Renovation Successes ; 7) Advocacy Efforts; 8) Where to Go for More Information; and 9) Bibliography.

Helps school boards and communities assess their options when considering replacing or renovating an established school. Considering the renovation the school within the context of neighborhood revitalization is emphasized, as is the construction quality typical of older schools, the assistance design professionals can provide, the value of small schools, the benefits of walking to school, the environmental wisdom of reusing older buildings, and the potential for adaptive reuse of older commercial buildings as schools. Case studies and opportunities particular to Pennsylvania are included. 32p.

Presents the plans for an upgraded Washington, D.C., elementary school campus which will subsequently host a renovated 40-year old school and a new public charter school. A project summary, plans aerial views, perspectives, project schedule, LEED approach, and budget are included. 22p.

This issue of the publication "Focus on Critical Issues" provides information to help encourage cycling to school. This includes planning and siting considerations for neighborhood schools, with examples of community and trail-linked campuses, parking lot size reductions, and preservation of historic schools. A list of resources is also included. 12p.

Outlines components of school facility policies that successfully combine rehabilitation of older schools and construction of new. These policies feature flexible acreage standards, joint use, funding partnerships, feasibility studies to compare the costs of renovating and building new, and sale or reuse of older school buildings that are not renewable. Citations for 20 exemplary state policies are included. 4p.

Narrates the history of the Rosenwald Schools, citing their funding, design, amenities, and educational legacy. Efforts to preserve surviving Rosenwald schools as schools, community centers, and museums are described, as are resources for preservation assistance. Includes 26 references. 20p.

This PowerPoint presentation explores the best thinking about fitting innovative educational practices into older facilities. Includes more than 100 slides illustrating with photographs and floorplans a number of case studies of new schools in old buildings, historic preservation, and adaptive reuse. The presentation was given by Frank Locker, Laura Wernick, Lorne McConachie, Randy Fielding, and Steve Olson.

Provides policy guidance and recommendations to officials and administrators at the state, local, and school district level to improve the creation of schools as centers of community. The recommended policies cover extensive and innovative community use of the public school facility, community partnerships that support high quality education and contribute to life-long learning, co-location with local government agencies and/or community organizations resulting in creative program service delivery and more efficient utilization of public land and buildings, and opportunities for new and/or additional sources of funds for financing building improvements and program delivery. Preservation of historic and other neighborhood schools is particularly encouraged. Best practices examples and a list of resources are also provided. 15p.

This section of the Whole Building Design Guide provides an overview of the topic and suggests four treatment approaches. There is full discussion of the following recommendations: Apply the Preservation Process Successfully; Update Building Systems Appropriately; Accommodate Life Safety and Security Needs; and Comply with Accessibility Requirements.

This historic context study spans more than a hundred years and the approximately 140 buildings constructed, acquired, maintained, expanded, and sometimes removed by the Minneapolis Board of Education between 1849 and 1962. The timeframe extends from the first public schools constructed in Minneapolis to the expansion of elementary and junior high schools for the post-World War II baby-boom generation. It examines the creation and maintenance of the school plant as evidenced by Minneapolis Board of Education policy and building design and describes the relationship of each remaining property to advances in school construction and program development. The historic context narrative includes an inventory of existing schools, including those now in private ownership.

Presents historical documentation for Virginia's Rosenwald Schools, detailing their creation, funding, architecture, distribution, and significance as landmarks worthy of preservation. Also included is documentation for the schools' accompanying teacher residences and industrial arts laboratories. Includes 27 references. 19p.

Provides guidance to communities in rehabilitating historic schools. The benefits and opportunities offered by older structures within neighborhoods are cited, along with advice on how to assess the economics of renovation and obtain funding. Practical guidance regarding sites, building codes, ADA compliance, building systems, safety, sustainability, and environmental hazards is offered. Includes 46 references. 44p.

This provides a detailed review of how school construction decisions — whether to renovate existing buildings or build new, greenfield facilities — are made in Michigan and their effect on development patterns. The report aims to help school officials, community leaders, homeowners, and parents evaluate the full cost of new school construction or renovation. It recommends changes in state policy that, if implemented, will capture the economic and cultural benefits of renovating older schools or building new ones in town. 20p.

Presents a conceptual plan for locating a law-related charter high school to a small, historic neighborhood school building. The deficiencies described include lack of administrative, physical education, cafeteria, and assembly spaces, and sufficient classroom space. Site plans illustrate the design remedies and are accompanied by cost estimates. 59p.

From 1750 through about 1950, the one-room schoolhouse was a common fixture on the American landscape, with as many as 200,000 in total across the land. Today, approximately 450 one-room schoolhouses are still in use. This book is a celebration rather than a serious study of this American icon. It provides a tour of these structures still standing, detailing the best examples from forty-eight states, exploring working schools, some in existence for more than 100 years, schools restored as historic museums, and schools converted into private residences. 208p.

Presents a summary of a state study that explored the history and architecture of the Michigan public school building built 1835 to the present. Illustrated chapters cover the design influences, school types, building forms, styles, and key architects of the state's inventory. 29p.

Examines the numerous advantages that can be gained from preserving older neighborhood schools. Debunks the notion that well-renovated historic schools cannot meet modern standards. Recounts the experiences of three successful school renovation projects in Spokane, Washington; San Antonio, Texas; and Boise, Idaho. Concludes with several briefer examples illustrating how communities have found creative solutions to common problems encountered during historic renovation. Fifteen color photographs convey the value of these projects from an architectural and aesthetic perspective. 16p.

This report reaffirms the contribution made by historic neighborhood schools to their communities. It offers guidance to officials and local preservationists for creating state policies that help preserve and maintain historic community schools, and for building new schools that serve as community centers. The report describes state requirements for community involvement in school planning, the overly generous site standards that contradict the creation of community schools and preservation, and funding mechanisms that help preserve historic schools. Information for the report was gathered from telephone interviews, correspondence with state school facility officials,and online reviews of printed school facility standards. Includes 13 references. 32p.

Offers justifications for preserving the state's historic schools along with advice on how to receive historic designation and state funding for rehabilitation. Discussions of renovation versus building new, deferred maintenance, adaptive use, and community use follow. 12p.

This provides ideas to help a community plan for the long-term preservation of historic school buildings, for continued school use or adapted for new uses. It includes helpful references, a preservation tool box, case studies of success stories in Ohio, and recommended contacts.

This in-depth study of selected historic schools in the Columbus Public School district demonstrates that the renovation of such buildings can achieve a high standard of educational adequacy for a cost that is less than new construction. Four case studies are beautifully illustrated with photographs, floor plans, and artist's renderings of conceptual design solutions. 86p.

This report examines public policy effects on historic neighborhood school expansion, renovation, and replacement needs. It addresses four basic questions: (1) Are public policies inadvertently sabotaging the very type of community-centered school that many parents and educators are calling for today? (2) Do some policies and practices promote mega-school sprawl at the expense of older neighborhoods? (3) Why can't kids walk to school anymore? and (4) How have some school districts overcome policy and other barriers to the retention and modernization of old historic schools? Included are examples of how some communities are addressing these policies, including several school renovation successes. Concluding sections provide recommendations for policy reforms to buttress neighborhood conservation and smart growth efforts that can help to retain and improve good schools that have served established neighborhoods for generations. 52p.

This publication was developed to assist concerned citizens faced with the loss of their neighborhood schools. It recounts a brief history of school reform in Ohio, leading to the current crisis, and suggests strategies advocates for the preservation of their neighborhood schools can use to save their neighborhood assets. Broad issues addressed include understanding the process of school construction, understanding the perspective of the educator and community, organizing stakeholders, confronting challenges, and designing a communications campaign. (Contains a list of organizational resources.) 14p.

This annual list of endangered places includes a group of historic schools built in 15 Southern and Southwestern states between 1913 and 1933. Jewish philanthropist Julius Rosenwald, a high school dropout and CEO of Sears, Roebuck and Company, teamed with Booker T. Washington, the country's preeminent African Americn educator, to create a system of matching grants that helped construct more than 5,300 schools. Many are now lost or in disrepair. Contact information on how to particpate in efforts to identify and save these structures is included.

This study involved an in-depth floor space analysis of Cardozo Senior High School, and a review of design plans for a modernized McKinley Tech High School (both in Washington, DC), in order to prompt District of Columbia public schools to develop accurate measurements of useable (i.e., net) floor space, thereby allowing design standards flexible enough to accommodate old and historic schools. Detailed findings from the floor space analyses led to the following recommendations: (1) revise the standard specs to allow greater flexibility so that existing high schools will not face a complete demolition of their interiors at extremely high cost; (2) change the floor space design standard value or eliminate its use altogether; (3) calculate the quantity of net floor space by measuring instructional and administrative space, thereby helping with the determination of enrollment capacities; (4) reexamine the quantity of total existing gross floor space, which is critical to the determination of excess space; and (5) undertake site studies to determine whether structured parking or other improvements are possible to alleviate site constraint problems. (Contains several tables of floor space analysis. Appendices contain floor plans, a list of rooms measured at Cardozo, and a comparison between Cardozo and standard specs of net floor spaces and student capacities.) 43p.

The paper describes how the trend toward building new schools on large sites far from existing development centers, called “school sprawl” or “school giantism,” can have far-reaching impacts on school children,school districts and the larger community. Educators and parents express concern that large schools reduce educational outcomes, particularly for at-risk youth. Schools that are more distant can diminish student participation in extra-curricular activities, parental involvement and taxpayer support. Students are walking and cycling to school less, which contributes to alarming rates of childhood obesity. Rather than build shopping mall schools at the edge of town, smart growth advocates encourage the continued use of existing schools and the construction of new schools on infill sites within existing neighborhoods. Smart growth advocates' interest in neighborhood schools dovetails with education reformers' interest in small schools, presenting an important opportunity for collaboration. 12p.

This report presents a case study of the renovation of Charles Young Elementary School in Washington, DC, focusing on how an improved school environment contributed to higher levels of educational performance. The school was chosen as a school revitalization demonstration project for the Urban Schools Initiative. The objective of the project was to: turn a school building with acute indoor environmental problems into a model school environment, assess the resources required for such work, train district personnel in the prevention of future indoor environmental quality problems, and provide guidance to other schools in environmental remediation. 30p.

This booklet includes definitions of various treatments for historic properties, such as preservation, rehabilitation, restoration, and reconstruction. It describes what makes a property of historical significance, and lists identification systems and surveys. Preservation services provided by architects are fully explained, and include the research, investigation, and analysis phase; design development phase; contruction document phase; bidding, negotiations, and construction contract phase; and construction and contract administration phase. The booklet concludes with the discussion of the preservation team, preservation benefits, preservation costs, and the selection of an architect. 9p.

This document offers 19 case studies that show how people across the United States have kept historic schools as vital parts of their communities. The case studies offer concise summaries of information that architects, contractors, and school administrators have shared with the National Trust for Historic Preservation. They describe projects that illustrate reasonable solutions to: building code compliance, structural problems, deferred maintenance, mechanical-HVAC upgrades, safety issues, compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, integration of 21st-century technology, adaptation to modern educational programmatic needs, and sympathetic additions to historic structures. Contact information provided in each "success story" gives school facility decision makers and neighborhood preservationists the opportunity to talk directly with experts who have overcome vexing problems in school rehabilitation. The schools profiled are: (1) St. Helena Elementary School, St. Helena, California; (2) Portland Middle School, Portland, Connecticut; (3) The Thomas A. Edison Charter School, Wilmington, Delaware; (4) William McKinley High School, Honolulu, Hawaii; (5) Boise High School, Boise, Idaho; (6) Evergreen Academy, Chicago, Illinois; (7) William H. Ray Elementary School, Chicago, Illinois; (8) Carl Schurz High School, Chicago, Illinois; (9) The Shakespeare School, Chicago, Illinois; (10) East Boston High School, Boston, Massachusetts; (11) Fairhaven High School, Fairhaven, Massachusetts; (12) Sidney Pratt School and Community Education Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota; (13) Edward Lee McClain High School, Greenfield, Ohio; (14) Logan Elementary School, Columbia, South Carolina; (15) St. Louis School, Castroville, Texas; (16) Woodrow Wilson High School, Dallas, Texas; (17) Appomattox Regional Governor's School, Petersburg, Virginia; (18) St. Andrew's School, Richmond, Virginia; and (19) Latona Elementary School, Seattle, Washington. 61p.

This brief suggests that not every historic school can or even should be saved, but all too often, historic schools and options for renovation are routinely dismissed without full consideration of alternatives or community input. The article further asserts that many schools are either abandoned or demolished simply because of their age, as school administrators argue that they cannot be preserved and adapted to meet modern educational program needs. The article suggests that as residents, parents, elected officials, or school board members, there are various ways to get noticed, participate, and ultimately advocate for saving a historic neighborhood school. The included strategies serve as a road map to help get started, ask the right questions, follow leads, identify warning signs, and build support. The strategies include: (1) get familiar with the process (school facility evaluations, inflated school renovation cost estimates and prejudices, state reimbursement rules, acreage standards); (2) understand the perspective of the educator and the community (find your target audience, recognize the needs of children, consider the educator's point of view, be sensitive to socio-economic and racial issues, maintain civility, anticipate the process); (3) organize stakeholders (engage the school community, form alliances, bring in the experts); (4) plan for obstacles and success (seek funding to support your effort; recognize the human factor); (5) confront the challenge (understand the case for replacement); and others. 10p.

Weighing the pros and cons of renovating a historic neighborhood school or building a new one takes preservation "know-how," experience, and creativity. Central to this decision-making process is the feasibility study, often conducted by an architectural consultant hired by a school district. The included feasibility study checklist can help identify the factors involved in making the best decision and assuring that a feasibility study for an historic neighborhood school is fair, objective, and reasonable. It will also assist in identifying "warning signs," questions to ask, and knowing what to look for when challenging the results and projected cost estimates of a feasibility study. 5p.

This book explores the architectural treasures of the Boston, Massachusetts public schools. It includes photographs and descriptions of 129 buildings that were constructed in the late 19th century and throughout the 20th century and notes that the first and oldest public school in the United States was founded in Boston in 1635. Eight chapters focus on: (1) "Exploring for Treasure"; (2) "Turning the Century"; (3) "Growing Up"; (4) "The Roaring Twenties"; (5) "A New Deal"; (6) "After the War"; (7) "Suburban Spread"; and (8) "Turning the Century--Again." A CD-ROM with over 100 images and descriptive captions of the architectural treasures of the Boston Public Schools, Massachusetts is included. 138p.

The case studies in this booklet highlight how five communities, in big cities and small towns, overcame the obstacles inherent in creating good new schools in existing neighborhoods. There is mounting evidence that small schools provide a better quality education than large ones. Among the obstacles faced in establishing new schools in old areas are: (1) school building standards, codes, and regulations; (2) difficulty in acquiring land; (3) districts have lost the skill to build schools; and (4) building “greenfield” schools is more familiar. The Oyster School in Washington, D.C., is an example of a school modernized through parent efforts when the school system was not able to find the funds for improvement of the facility. Sharing the existing space with an apartment building, at the cost of some space, resulted in a renovated school. In Pomona, California, a school was built at the site of a mall and vacant supermarket. A magnet-type school was built in Dallas, Texas, on the last piece of undeveloped land near a multifamily apartment complex. Two public academies were established in downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee, to attract children whose parents work in town and ensure that both the academies were filled to capacity. Rebuilding on the site of an old school was the solution for Manitowoc, Wisconsin, as it worked to meet the needs of a neighborhood. Some other examples of noteworthy approaches to new schools for old communities are briefly outlined. 20p.

This document provides a case study of the renovation of Johnson-Williams Middle School in Clarke County, Virginia. Chapter 1, "Planning and Designing a School Renovation," describes considerations for measuring the quality of a school renovation project, including its value to users and its imapct on learning. It presents the condition of the school prior to renovation, and articulates the planning phases of the construction processes. It concludes by delineating the projected outcomes and expected benefits of the renovation project to its stakeholders. Chapter 2, "Undertaking the Construction Process," discusses the guiding principles of the project and the punch-list phase of construction. Chapter 3, "Outcomes of Renovation," discusses the results of the renovation in terms of industry standards of renovation quality, user perceptions of facility quality, changes in social interactions and school relationships, and student achievement outcomes. The concluding chapter provides thoughts on educational facilities research and implementing school renovation. (Appendices contain a list of the primary sources and the plans of Johnson-Williams Middle School.) 42p.

This press release describes a cooperative agreement between the Council of Educational Facility Planners International (CEFPI) and the National Park Service (NPS), through its National Center for Preservation Technology Training (NCPTT). The two organizations recommend that the choice of renovating historic neighborhood schools be placed on the same level as new construction in the decision process that deals with issues of capacity and conditions of school buildings.

This report addresses the decision-making process for replacing or modernizing District of Columbia public schools. The three-section document discusses old and historic schools and their future; the schools’ historical and architectural value; cost of replacement and modernization; design; materials; and the environmental impact of school replacement. The first section explores issues related to the modernization or replacement of old and historic schools and factors that should be considered in the District. The second section presents a history of the school system. The third section provides detailed school-by-school surveys of the historical and architectural details of public schools built in the District before 1945, including address, school size, site size, the architect involved, architectural style, design date, dates of construction, past alterations, and additions. 158p.

The Aging School Program in Maryland provides state funds to all school systems in Maryland to address the needs of their aging school buildings. These funds may be utilized for capital improvements, repairs, and deferred maintenance work at existing public school buildings and sites serving students. This describes eligible projects and the application process. 13p.

Explores the evaluation of an aged school facility's ability to support today's educational programs and ways of enhancing this support through building improvements. Covers national school condition assessments and considerations regarding building new or renovating; presents a methodology for performing a school condition assessment, including economic analysis; offers case studies used during the workshop. Microsoft PowerPoint presentation consisting of 50 slides used in a community workshop. 50p.

Excerpt from the author's testimony before Georgia Governor's Education Reform Study Commission regarding the adverse impact on older schools under the state’s funding formula. Over 100 smaller, older Georgia school buildings have been closed since 1986. Provides justification for renovating older schools and keeping educational facilities within community centers. The author is President of the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation.

"Historic Schools" are listed on the National Trust for Historic Preservation's yearly "America's 11 Most Endangered Places". Neighborhood schools are often demolished or deserted, victims of deferred maintenance, consolidation, development pressure, inadequate funding, and policies promoting the construction of large consolidated schools in outlying locations. Describes actions the National Trust is calling for to address the problem.

In Waitsburg, Washington, the community was actively involved in a rural school facilities improvement project. The district serves approximately 410 students in three buildings on a single campus. Spurred by growing enrollment and aging facilities, the project included the complete renovation and restoration of a historic school building to serve as a junior high school, as well as remodeling and new construction for the elementary school building. A new superintendent, hired after efforts to build a new elementary school failed, established a facilities steering committee of key community members, launched a monthly district newsletter, held a series of community meetings to gather feedback, and conducted surveys to determine priorities of need for facilities improvement and to offer the community a range of project options. After the scope of the project was established, a bond issue was narrowly passed and state matching funds were obtained. Separate committees worked on the design of each building, with the local historical society involved in decisions about the historic junior high building. To offset the limited funding available, crews of community volunteers did the initial interior demolition work, moved furniture to temporary classrooms in churches and community buildings and then back to the schools when the renovation was complete, and did landscaping. (Contains 26 references and a brief literature review on rural school-community involvement.) 16p.

This booklet takes a critical look at some of the assumptions that "newer is better" when it comes to school buildings and considers what is actually lost each time an older neighborhood school is razed or retired. The following six assumptions are examined relative to their accuracy in the real world: 1) that "old" means out of dated or obsolete; 2) that in the long run it is a better investment of funds to construct a new building than to renovate an older one; 3) that older school buildings fail to meet national guidelines for school facilities; 4) that older school buildings have numerous practical drawbacks that cannot be realistically overcome; 5) that a new school will be a source of pride and affirmation for students and teachers; and 6) that a new school building will be an asset to its community and region. Decision making to close a school and getting the community involved prior to that decision are discussed. Several success stories involving school preservation are provided as is a list of national, state, and local organizations for more information. 33p.

This paper presents a study on how the South Carolina school site selection process can affect the quality of the students' experience and access to their schools. Focusing on students options for getting to school, e.g., hazards that prevent students from walking to school and the size of school sites that place schools on the edge of communities, the study found that students are four times more likely to walk to schools built before 1983 than to those built after 1983. The reasons for these trends is the disconnect between the school site selection process and land use planning considerations. School officials and planning agencies work independently of one another. This disconnect is partly attributed to current habits of site selection that were crystallizing in the early 1970s. Recommendations are discussed. Appendices provide lists of Lowcountry schools with data, schools with hazard routes and applicable date, and school sites by decade of construction. Appendices also present the percentage above and below state requirements of K-12 schools built in different decades, the South Carolina Department of Education criteria for school site selection, conservationist land use goals, and efforts to improve site selection in other states to avoid sprawl. A list of informational sources concludes the paper. 70p.

This paper addresses the growing population trends in California; the need to counteract the current model of community sprawl by designing smarter schools and community growth strategies; and the changes in planning, policies, and practices needed to achieve these goals. Recommended strategies described support the following actions: more participatory and community-based planning; innovative educational facilities that promote the concept of learning communities and schools as centers of community; the joint use of all public facilities; the planning of urban and suburban projects based on the principles of smart growth; the assessment of all public expenditures based on the concept of integrated resource development; and the development of an ongoing vehicle for communications and decision-making between all agencies, institutions and organizations involved in education reform and smart growth issues. Six case studies are highlighted that illustrate some of the goals outlined for smarter schools and smarter growth strategies. 37p.

A slide presentation text examines the decision making process behind whether a community should renovate their older school facilities or abandon them for new facilities. Three factors to be considered in this decision are addressed and involve the school's location, the history of the school, and the relationship of the school to the community and the opportunities the older school affords. Each factor is examined and examples of school design are provided, including modifying double loaded corridors to provide resource areas and cluster learners to promote collaboration. 22p.

A conference of school architects, construction managers, and school administrators convened to examine the question of renovation or replacement of aging public schools. The panel discussed such topics as turn-of-the-century architectural features and sources of renovation financing. The proceedings contrast the distinguishing characteristics of schools from the early 20th century and the mid 20th century and they address the unique design principles and materials typical of facilities constructed during these eras. Other subjects include evaluation and assessment of existing school buildings; the tools and techniques for condition assessment; management of K-12 renovation projects; construction management as a construction delivery method of school renovation; the role of the architect as construction manager; construction scheduling; renovation programs that preserve valuable resources; and alternative funding possibilities such as public/private development partnerships. 24p.

Alarmed at the pattern of abandonment and destruction of older and historic school buildings, Historic Massachusetts provides suggestions for communities, case studies, and fiction and fact concerning Massachusetts state school building assistance.

School improvement in rural places cannot succeed without attention to the rural context of learning. Most especially, smaller schools need to be preserved and sustained in rural areas, particularly impoverished communities, for the sake of student achievement and personal development. This school improvement tool suggests the character of a "good rural community school" and briefly considers the relationships among learning, community, and facility construction in rural areas. A 20-point "Rural Community Schools' Facility Checklist" is included that reflects connections to community, curriculum, and issues related to quality of life in rural places. 9p.

This paper reviews the literature on the noneducational impacts of rural schools on their communities and provides an annotated bibliography of sources. Taken as a whole, the literature suggests that the school-community relationship is multifaceted. Community schools have positive economic impacts related to local employment, retail sales, and infrastructure; have positive social impacts related to social integration and collective community identity; function as an arena for local politics; provide a resource for community development through student projects and school-to-work programs; and offer a delivery point for health and social services, improving access to health care and other services. The annotated bibliography has two sections containing 43 research papers and 68 advocacy and position papers. Entries were published 1938-98 (primarily in the 1980s and 1990s) and include journal articles, federal documents, conference papers, monographs, books, book chapters, research bulletins, and master's theses. 48p.

A position paper addresses school closings in the District of Columbia arguing that these closings are not within the context of a 10-year educational facilities plan that included community input, and valid criteria for closing decisions being consistently and objectively applied. Current closings decisions are viewed as being made in a vacuum with little regard for the educational mission of the school system, the larger role of schools in communities, the management issues involved, or the families effected. It discusses why restraint must be exercised before closing a large number of facilities without a master plan, why in some cases the closing criteria is not supported by the demographic data, and why the building assessment process is a weak link in the system. It also addresses how school closings can affect the District community involved beyond the sentimental attachment, why schools targeted for closure be measured against educational as well as physical benchmarks, and the importance of linking modernization and closing that help assure relocated children and their parents that the new facility they are going to is safe and appropriate. 7p.

This report documents the archaeological investigations conducted at the former site of the Altaville Schoolhouse in Calaveras County, California. These investigations were carried out through the cooperative efforts of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the Calaveras County Historical Society, and the local community. The schoolhouse is the only one-room brick school building remaining in the Mother Lode area of California. It is California Historical Landmark Number 499, and in 1979 the schoolhouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1996, the 330 artifacts excavated were examined, identified, and cataloged. The first part of this report narrates the history of the schoolhouse: its construction in 1858 through its closure in 1950; its protected state from 1950-81; its relocation and renovation; and its current condition. The second part of the report gives an overview of the structural, educational, and cultural specimens obtained by archaeological investigations at the original site. The major part of the document consists of: 29 historical photographs of the school; 16 figures of school artifacts; a 330-item catalog of artifacts; newspaper and magazine reprints; copies of relevant documents, correspondence, legislation, maps, and blueprints; and chapter 7 from "Calaveras, the Land of Skulls" (R. C. Wood) describing state and county schools and teachers in California, 1855-59. (Contains 33 references.) 140p.

As late as 1913, half of U.S. schoolchildren were enrolled in the country's 212,000 one-room schools--the heart of American education. Although only about 428 of these schools remain in use as of 1994, the country school continues to be a powerful cultural symbol. The first section of this book examines country schools' educational and cultural legacy. Chapters (1) provide an overview placing country schools in the larger social and historical framework of American education; (2) describe the country school curriculum, discipline, and teaching methods; (3) present anecdotes and memoirs describing teacher education, teaching conditions, and teachers' lives on the Western frontier in the late 19th and early 20th centuries; (4) portray the role country schools played as rural community centers; (5) discuss the assimilation of immigrants and minorities in rural schools, focusing on Native Americans, Blacks, and Hispanics; and (6) look at public, private, and parochial country schools in operation today. The second section examines the great variety of design in country school architecture, including schoolhouse sites, architect designs, building forms, building materials and techniques, classroom furniture, and building standardization. The third section discusses the preservation and restoration of country schools; describes new uses as museums, centers for living history programs, and community centers; presents preservation case studies; and lists one-room schools, by state, that remain in public ownership. This book contains approximately 275 references, 400 photographs, numerous illustrations, and an index. 296p.

The number of public high school districts in North Dakota declined from 256 to 186 during 1970-94; 22 school districts were eliminated in the last 5 years of that period. A survey was conducted in eight communities (four pairs) that had gone through school district consolidation and school closing during 1991-94. Community populations in 1994 ranged from 45 to 696, and 6 communities had experienced recent population declines. Schools that closed had 47-97 students in their last year, while consolidated schools had 75-677 students in 1994. Responses were received from 601 of 2,190 residents surveyed and covered perceived reasons for school consolidation; impacts on community social infrastructure, retail trade, and quality of life; consequences for students; and ease of transition. In the past 10 years, participation in community organizations increased in host (receiving) communities and declined in vacated (school-closing) communities, while retail trade and number of businesses declined in both types of communities. Quality of life scores did not differ by type of community before consolidation, declined in both types after consolidation, and were considerably lower in vacated communities than in host communities after consolidation. Both groups felt that students were better off academically and socially after consolidation, and that having public meetings was the most important factor in easing the process of consolidation. 60p.

This paper examines the significance of facilities preservation for educational facilities planning and identifies various forms of facilities preservation applicable to educational facilities. It analyzes why educational facilities planners need to be aware of preservation considerations, reviews the relevant literature for preservation principles, identifies alternative preservation strategies, and highlights preservation practices in Virginia and their relationship to educational facilities preservation. Basic management principles for incorporating a preservation policy include: (1) coordinate the preservation activity within the community's master plan; (2) consider using outside professional help in preparing a brochure for advertising the available property; (3) consider explicit incorporation of a preservation component in the school system's long-range capital plan; and (4) recognize the key role of the local government in zoning and land use controls. Virginia state laws are not extensive or comprehensive; compared with other states, the state government does not empower its localities to offer strong preservation protections. In conclusion, when educational facilities planners develop a master plan for an older facility or plan for the acquisition of additional space, they should consider options other than simple disposal or new construction. Contains 14 references. 13p.

An overview of the history of rural school consolidation in north central Iowa reveals that by 1994, 9 of the 10 high schools in towns of less than 500 in 1940 had closed, and 3 of the 5 high schools in towns with populations of 500-999 had closed. However, all three towns with populations over 1,000 in 1940 had high schools in 1993-94. This down-sizing trend is evident in all areas of Iowa in that the number of towns with a high school decreased to 727 in 1950, to 419 in 1970, and to 359 in 1990. This study examined whether a greater percentage of incorporated towns in Iowa with a high school had a population increase, compared to towns without a high school during the same decades. During 1930-50, rural areas lost population, but the state gained and the number of places with high schools did not change. During 1950-70, population trends were the same, but a greater number of places lost their high schools to consolidation. During 1970-90, the state lost population, and the number of communities without a high school continued to increase. Data analysis revealed that half the communities with a high school gained a significant amount (5 percent or more) of population over 2 or more decades, and within the same time frame, three-fourths of communities without a high school were losing population. This study concludes that a community without a high school loses population faster when compared to all the towns losing population during the same time period. 12p.

Student attitudes toward the physical environment of a school opened in 1980 are compared to student attitudes toward two older schools: one constructed in 1923, the other in 1936. The control group consisted of all the 119 pupils in grades 2, 3, and 4 in the 1936-era school. The experimental group consisted of all the 96 pupils in grades 2, 3, and 4 in the 1923-constructed building who were later transferred to the new school. Pupil pre-test and post-test scores on the "Our School Building Attitude Inventory" served as the dependent variable. The independent variables were the physical facilities in the three school buildings, and students' sex, race, and socioeconomic status. Analyses of covariance and variance were used to examine the variables. The main finding of the study was that pupils housed in a modern school building have significantly more positive attitudes toward their school building than do pupils housed in an old building. Race and socioeconomic status had no effect on pupil attitudes toward school buildings, though females in the control group scored significantly higher than males in both the pre-test and the post-test. Six pages of selected references accompany the report. 33p.

This manual provides recommendations for school boards and communities concerning the leasing, selling, and marketing of school buildings. The reuse potential of each type of school building is investigated, and suggestions are made for successful conversions. Design considerations and the many aspects of acquiring and developing a school reuse project are discussed, including ownership, building codes, feasibility analysis, design guidelines, and financing. Finally, successful school reuse projects from across the country, along with designs developed by the authors, are cited to further demonstrate the great reuse potential which school buildings have. Appendices provide the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation and selected funding sources. (Contains 40 references.) 119p.

School administrators confronted with the possibility of having to close a school need to inform the public, assess community attitudes and needs, and identify the best possible use of the buildings. Existing schools must be reexamined in light of the new need to conserve energy and reduce operating costs. Measures that reduce energy consumption can be taken and, if necessary, schools can be remodeled. The motivation for modernization is now upgrading the environment and remodeling space for change in the educational program, plus phasing out buildings that have outlasted their usefulness. For schools over 100 years old, historic preservation can often restore and adapt them to new needs. Thirty-five successful examples of upgrading existing facilities and, in some cases, changing their function are documented in photographs and floor plans. 216p.

Reviews a design charrette for this St. Louis historic landmark. A plan for conversion of the facility into small learning communities was the outcome.

Discusses the large inventory of historic campus buildings; problems identifying, renovating, and reusing them; and the tendency to demolish too hastily.

Profiles the Cambridge City Hall Annex, an LEED-certified adaptive reuse of an 1871 school building into a municipal administrative center. Details of materials used, design features, and restoration of architectural detailing are covered.

Highlights the advantages of adaptive reuse of older campus buildings and offers several criteria for assessing whether or not an adaptive reuse is desirable or feasible.

Presents points consider when deciding between new construction or renovation of a school. These help to decide between renovating or restoring a school; to assess the architectural merit, condition, and educational usefulness of a school; to involve the community; to select the right design and construction professionals; and to get the best project for the money.

Provides guidance in assessing the renovation potential of a school. Sustainability, community attachment, and academic performance factors are considered.

Profiles the renovated and expanded Stivers School for the Arts in Dayton, Ohio. The historic 1908 structure was preserved and reused to "wonderful advantage," and at a cost lower than demolition and construction of a new facility. Partial demolition made way for new spaces that accommodate contemporary music education, and administrative and common areas were relocated to more accessible parts of the building.

Advises on creating school additions that transform the whole building, rather than just create additional space. The historical practice of attaching incompatible modern structures to old ones is described, followed by examples where new and old have been successfully blended.

Presents the design of this small, specialized learning environment within an historic 1930s high school. 12-hour use, security, accessibility, and the division of the building into three academies are discussed.

Cites historical laws that segregated white and African-American students, the inadequacy of schools built for the latter, and the response by philanthropist Julius Rosenwald to build better schools for African-Americans in the early 20th century. The history and legacy of the resulting Rosenwald Schools are described, as are successful and continuing efforts to preserve many of the structures.

Describes a contemporary addition to a Winnipeg adult education facility that was built in 1898 as a neighborhood school. Plans, photographs, building statistics, and a list of project participants are included.

Advises on assessing, renovating, and reusing older buildings for educational use, with particular attention to adaptive reuse of vacant commercial structures as schools, which may help anchor stressed neighborhoods.

Presents case studies of three historic Chicago-area schools that were modernized while preserving their significant architecture, or in some cases, having that architecture restored after neglect or inappropriate additions.

Describes this middle school, which was carefully fitted into an existing historic campus in a residential neighborhood. Building statistics, a listing of the design and construction participants, cost details, a floor plan and photographs are included.

Details the renovation of this landmark high school building that involved restoration of the notable 1935 original structure, demolition of insensitive and educationally inadequate additions, and the creation of state-of-the-art facilities for science, the arts, and community recreation.

Describes the extensive and technically sophisticated restoration of the Princeton University Chapel. The renowned gothic edifice had experienced significant deterioration of its elaborate stonework, necessitating careful workmanship to match color, texture, and detail of the 1920's original with newly quarried materials.

Describes the renovation of a beloved, but threatened 1934 elementary school by removing unremarkable additions of the 1960's and 1970's, and building a modern wing that honored the architecture of the original.

The significance of segregation-era African American schoolhouses and the efforts of community groups engaged in their preservation are explained. The community groups which are involved in preservation activities are motivated by desires to honor the strivings of their forbearers and preserve their own history for future generations, to inspire children and teach them about their heritage.

The challenge at the College of William and Mary is ensuring a renovated historic building is maintained and operated efficiently. Maintenance technicians and others in the department worked closely with architects and contractors to work out the details of the renovation work and to make equipment and structural changes to the building that would both ensure its historic nature and its cost-effective maintainability in the future.