Several recent studies confirm that many of America's school buildings are in disrepair and need renovation. The average school building in America is 42 years old. As the number of young people entering school grows and the demand for reduced class size increases, an unprecedented demand for the construction and renovation of school facilities is emerging.

This desire has not escaped the notice of policymakers. Legislators at the local, state, and federal levels are introducing initiatives to fund school construction. Politicians are not the only ones who have acknowledged the need for school construction funds. A 1998 poll shows that school modernization is a major priority for American voters. This support cuts across demographic lines and political parties, and has already turned into results in some parts of the country. For example, New Jersey lawmakers recently approved a $12 billion project to rebuild the state's public schools. The message is clear: Americans are ready to provide funds for school construction and renovation.

1. Involve the community in the planning process

Members of the community should be involved in all steps of planning the construction of a community school. Invite educators, parents, students, business leaders, religious leaders, community organizations, health and human services agencies, youth development organizations, and government agencies to participate in the planning process. The input of these stakeholders is invaluable. A successful community school needs the cooperation of these various constituencies, and involving them in the planning process is a good way to bring them into the school community.

2. Seek alternative funding sources

Sharing resources between school and community is smarter and more cost-effective than duplicating resources. By pooling funds among agencies and combining projects to meet public infrastructure needs, communities across the country can save millions of dollars. For example, if a school needs a new gymnasium and the parks and recreation department also needs a new facility, a partnership between these entities can result in one joint-use facility and thousands of dollars saved.

3. Provide space for community stakeholders and partners in the school design

In order for community organizations or residents to successfully partner with schools, they must feel welcome on the school grounds. This may mean setting aside a special room (or rooms) for parents, community groups, or social services. Another option is designing classrooms with secure areas for teachers' materials so they can be open to the community after hours. Additional ideas will undoubtedly arise from a diverse planning team. Too often, community groups are forced out of schools when there is a space crunch. For example, class size reduction mandates can leave administrators scrambling to find classroom space, often at the expense of school-community partnerships. By allocating space for community groups and services in an intentional and permanent manner, school planners can insure a long-term, beneficial relationship with the community.

The Tishimongo County High School (TCHS) is located in a rural, low-income community in northeast Mississippi. The state funded a project to consolidate the county's three existing high schools into one. With the help of architect Steven Bingler, the Tishimongo community seized this opportunity to create a high school that provides amenities and services to which the community would otherwise not have access. The gym doubles as a health club during off-hours, the school library is also the public library, and the cafeteria, auditorium, and other rooms are available for community groups to rent as meeting spaces. TCHS has inspired camaraderie among formerly isolated towns in the county, and test scores have increased.
Contact: 701 Highway 72, Iuka MS 38852; 662-423-7300

Gaylord Community School, Gaylord, Michigan

Gaylord High School is a community center as well as a secondary education institution. Classrooms at Gaylord were designed to accommodate community use as well as student learning. The design team created departmental offices with private, secure spaces for school staff to store their materials, thereby eliminating some of the traditional barriers to having classrooms open outside of regular school hours. The school houses senior activities, daycare, performing arts programs, community health care clinics, higher education classes, and even weddings. This variety of activities produces more interaction, communication, volunteerism, funding, and general support for students and their education. The entire Gaylord community is now invested in the school.
Contact: 90 Livingston Blvd, Gaylord, MI 49735; 517-732-6402

Tenderloin Community School, San Francisco, California

The Tenderloin Community School is a K-5 school that serves a neighborhood with a large population of recent immigrants from Southeast Asia. After realizing that Tenderloin children were being bussed all over the city, the Bay Area Women's and Children's Center, a local community group, launched a campaign to bring an elementary school to the 1000 children living in the neighborhood. The result is an efficient, secure K-5 elementary school that also houses a child development center. The facility offers on-site services for children and their families, including medical and dental facilities, counseling rooms, adult education classrooms, a parent resource center, a community garden, and a community kitchen. The design provides all of these services on a very visible and compact site.
Contact: 627 Turk St., San Francisco, CA 94102; 415-749-3567

Rochester City School District, Rochester, New York

The Rochester City School District shares many of its school facilities with city recreation programs. City rec programs are on site Monday through Friday in 15 schools and run summer programs in 10 schools. Two schools in particular have especially meaningful relationships with community programs. The James Madison School of Excellence, completed two years ago, is physically connected to the Southwest Community Center and houses the offices of the Southwest Neighborhood Association (SWAN). Through special budget considerations, there is no fee for any SWAN program that wishes to use the Madison facilities. Another school with a similar partnership is the Freddie Thomas Learning Center. Built five years ago, this middle school shares facilities with the Louis Street Center, and provides many services to students and their families, including recreation and health and human services.
Contact: Sue Flannery, Rochester City School District Facilities Office, 716-262-8396

The National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities has compiled an annotated bibliography on the topic of community use of schools (and other "hot topics" in school construction as well).

The U.S. Department of Education offers a variety of resources for school construction on its website, including its comprehensive guide, Schools as Centers of Community.

The American Institute of Architects has launched a program called "Reinvigorating Our Schools" that provides information about securing funding and finding the right architect.

The National Education Association's "Legislative Action Center" on their website has a portion dedicated to school modernization.

The Finance Project has many resources regarding funding for school construction projects, including a new report titled "Building for the Future: A Guide to Facilities Loan Funds for Community-Based Child and Family Services."

Jeffery A. Lackney of the Educational Design Institute at Mississippi State University has published a document entitled, "Thirty-Three Educational Design Principles for Schools & Community Learning Centers."

"Building America's Schools: State Efforts to Address School Facility Needs," an issue brief written by the National Governors' Association, outlines current funding programs for school construction in each state.

New Schools/Better Neighborhoods, an organization in California, has published "What If?" a document that outlines the need for community schools and provides information about funding.