Photo courtesy National Trust for Historic Preservation

Saving Historic Schools

10 Steps You Can Take to Help Save a Threatened

Historic School in Your Neighborhood

Make sure your preservation campaign

demonstrates how students will benefit from the

renovation of a historic school. For

example, how could money be spent to improve

students’ academic achievement by renovating

the existing school or creating a new addition?

Remember that new buildings can often host

new activities (e.g., new science labs). In some

cases, this allows the historic spaces to once

again be used for classroom, gymnasium, or

auditorium purposes.

1. Focus on the needs of

schoolchildren.

Photo courtesy Joe Romeo/Perkins Eastman

Show how the renovation and modernization

of the existing historic structure could become

a first-class educational facility. One way to

do this is to hire an architect, who can serve

as an expert advocate for preservation when

making your case.

(Check out this previous blog post on how to

find National Trust funding for expert support.)

2. Develop a feasible, cost-

effective alternate strategy.

Photo courtesy Bay City Central High School

Create drawings of how the school would look, and show photographs of successfully rehabilitated and modernized schools. Distribute these throughout the community. If possible, host field trips to nearby historic schools that have been rehabbed.

3. Provide compelling images to help decision

makers visualize the renovated school.

Photo courtesy Doug Scott 2002

These groups will likely be the most critical stakeholders and persuasive

voices. Also reach out to neighbors, elected officials, alumni, retired

teachers, school employees, Parent Teacher Associations, neighborhood

associations, and local preservation groups.

4. Involve teachers, parents, and

students in your preservation campaign.

Photo courtesy photographer Wayne Soverns, Jr./HMFH Architects, Inc.

Isolate and answer each of the district’s key

issues that are perceived as barriers to

renovation. These could include costs, structural

instability, code problems, fire

safety, accessibility, parking, and technology.

Gather as much factual, objective information as

possible to offer solutions to these concerns.

The architect can help address these issues as

well.

Contact your state historic preservation office for

additional resources.

5. Analyze the school

district’s proposal.

Photo courtesy ttarasiuk, Flickr

For example, some states will not

reimburse a local school district’s costs of

renovation. If so, challenge the policy.

Seek a variance, which is an exception or

deviation from the rule or law, or a more

liberal application of the policy.

6. Look into state-level

administration policies that

could preclude the

preservation of your

neighborhood school.

Photo courtesy Carroll Van West

Compare the costs of new construction versus rehabilitation. Put a price tag on the school district’s proposal and on your alternative approach. Preservation may appeal to certain taxpayers if you can argue that renovating the historic school would improve the building while avoiding the extra cost of starting from scratch.

7. Focus on the “frugality argument.”

Photo courtesy Bastrop Main Street

Abandoning a historic school may lead to vandalism and a decline in property values. If a historic school is demolished, it may remain a vacant lot for years or be replaced with an undesirable new use. Moreover, consolidating historic neighborhood schools into a large anonymous “sprawl” school on the outskirts of town may strain the sense of community and add to transportation costs that can put financial strain on families and governments alike.

8. Help your neighbors

understand the community

impacts of the school

district’s plan.

Photo courtesy TexasExplorer98, Flickr

Historic neighborhood schools often allow students to walk to school; enjoy a

smaller, more intimate setting with friends from their neighborhood; and grow

up immersed in the historic school’s tradition and architecture. And, there’s

considerable evidence that smaller schools improve academic achievement

and enrich students’ learning experiences.

9. Publicize the benefits of preserving the school.

Photo courtesy Elizabeth/Table4Five, Flickr

Develop a clear succinct message. Generate letters to the editor. Borrow mailing lists and send out flyers. Post yard signs. Place radio ads. Host town meetings. Go door to door. Circulate a petition. Create a website to present your case and provide up-to-date information. Don’t hesitate to ask for donations to support the cause.

10. Use every grassroots strategy in the

book.

Photo courtesy BaynardBailey, Flickr

Please note: Renovating or closing historic school facilities can be

complicated, expensive, and potentially divisive issues within the

community, so make every effort to establish a relationship with the

school district and involve all stakeholders, such as

neighbors, students, teachers, owners of local businesses, regional

planners, and local government officials in the decision-making

process.

For additional resources and case studies, read about the National

Trust’s work protecting older and historic schools, as well as our

Helping Johnny Walk to School campaign.

Ten on Tuesday features ten preservation

tips each week. For more tips, visit

blog.PreservationNation.org.