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.
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