SMART GROWTH SCHOOLS. What is a Smart Growth School? 1. Definition 2. Benefits 3. Examples 4. Barriers.

SMARTSMARTGROWTHGROWTHSCHOOLSSCHOOLS

SMART GROWTH SCHOOLSSMART GROWTH SCHOOLS

What is a Smart Growth School?What is a Smart Growth School?

1. Definition 1. Definition

2. Benefits 2. Benefits

3. Examples 3. Examples

4. Barriers4. Barriers

What is a Smart Growth What is a Smart Growth School?School?

• encourages community involvementencourages community involvement• allows students to walk or bike to schoolallows students to walk or bike to school• acts as a neighborhood anchor, acts as a neighborhood anchor,

supports community use of school supports community use of school facilitiesfacilities

• fits in well with neighborhoodfits in well with neighborhood• makes good use of existing resources, makes good use of existing resources,

such as historic school buildingssuch as historic school buildings• small in sizesmall in size

Smart Growth SchoolSmart Growth School

Encourages broad community Encourages broad community involvementinvolvement


Encourages broad community Encourages broad community involvementinvolvement

Sidney Pratt School and Community Education Center- B. Sidney Pratt School and Community Education Center- B. GraffGraff


Allows students to walk or bike to Allows students to walk or bike to schoolschool


Allows students to walk or bike to Allows students to walk or bike to schoolschool

Smart Growth SchoolSmart Growth SchoolActs as a neighborhood anchor, Acts as a neighborhood anchor,

supports community use of school supports community use of school facilities facilities


Acts as a neighborhood anchor, Acts as a neighborhood anchor, supports community use of school supports community use of school

facilities facilities

Sidney Pratt School and Community Education Center- Sidney Pratt School and Community Education Center- B. GraffB. Graff

Smart Growth School Smart Growth School

Fits in well with the surrounding Fits in well with the surrounding neighborhoodneighborhood


Fits in well with the surrounding Fits in well with the surrounding neighborhoodneighborhood


Makes good use of existing Makes good use of existing resources, such as historic school resources, such as historic school

buildingsbuildings


Makes good use of existing Makes good use of existing resources, such as historic school resources, such as historic school

buildingsbuildings


Small in sizeSmall in size


Small in sizeSmall in size

What are the benefits of Smart What are the benefits of Smart Growth Schools?Growth Schools?

• Improve Educational OutcomesImprove Educational Outcomes

• Save MoneySave Money

• Promote Greater Community Promote Greater Community

Involvement Involvement

• Improve Student HealthImprove Student Health

BenefitsBenefits

Improve Educational Improve Educational OutcomesOutcomes

students at small schools:students at small schools:• have higher grade point averageshave higher grade point averages• participate in more extracurricular participate in more extracurricular

activitiesactivities• attend more regularlyattend more regularly• feel a sense of belongingfeel a sense of belonging

Karen Febey and Joe NathanKaren Febey and Joe NathanSmaller, Safer, Saner, Successful SchoolsSmaller, Safer, Saner, Successful Schools

Benefits Benefits


Lewis and Clark Lewis and Clark

High SchoolHigh School

#1 average SAT #1 average SAT scoresscores

in Spokane, in Spokane, WashingtonWashington

Benefits Benefits


The H.H. Battle Academy of Teaching andLearning and the Tommye F. Brown Academy

of Classical Studies in Chattanooga, TN

The school district joined forces with University of Tennessee, Chattanooga and local

philanthropic organizations to fund two downtown magnet schools. Through this unique partnership additional resources are available, such as improved educational instruction. The

teachers receive special additional training through the University of Tennessee.

Benefits Benefits

Save MoneySave Money• School transportation costs have doubled in School transportation costs have doubled in

the last 25 years. the last 25 years. • As schools were built farther from the As schools were built farther from the

students they serve, the miles traveled by students they serve, the miles traveled by school buses increased 24% between 1986 school buses increased 24% between 1986 and 1996. and 1996.

(Strange, 2001, pg.4)(Strange, 2001, pg.4)

School Transportation Costs for CaliforniaSchool Transportation Costs for California1996-97: $784 million1996-97: $784 million2000-01: $1.04 billion2000-01: $1.04 billion

Benefits Benefits

Save MoneySave Money

A study of school siting in Bend, Oregon A study of school siting in Bend, Oregon found that annual transportation costs at found that annual transportation costs at neighborhood schools could be 32% lower neighborhood schools could be 32% lower than at sites on the edge of the than at sites on the edge of the

community.community.

Evans and AssociatesEvans and AssociatesBend-LaPine School District Siting StudyBend-LaPine School District Siting Study

August 1997August 1997

BenefitsBenefits

Save MoneySave Money

Parents worked out Parents worked out a public/private a public/private development development partnership topartnership toindependently fund independently fund the modernization the modernization of the Oyster of the Oyster

Bilingual Bilingual Elementary School in Elementary School in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.

BenefitsBenefits

Greater Community Greater Community InvolvementInvolvement

In St. Louis,… the Washington University Medical In St. Louis,… the Washington University Medical Center, the St. Louis Cardinals, and McCormack Center, the St. Louis Cardinals, and McCormack Baron developers teamed up with the school Baron developers teamed up with the school

board board and citizens to reclaim a vacant historic school and citizens to reclaim a vacant historic school

andandrevitalize a depressed neighborhood.revitalize a depressed neighborhood.

Adams Elementary SchoolAdams Elementary SchoolAdams Park Community CenterAdams Park Community Center

St. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis, Missouri

Benefits Benefits

Greater Community Greater Community InvolvementInvolvement

Adams Elementary SchoolAdams Elementary SchoolAdams Park Community CenterAdams Park Community Center

Adams Elementary School-Sam Adams Elementary School-Sam FentressFentress

Adams Elementary School Gym-Alise O’BrienAdams Elementary School Gym-Alise O’Brien

BenefitsBenefits

Improve Student HealthImprove Student Health

80% of children don’t 80% of children don’t

walk to school. The walk to school. The most most

commonly mentioned commonly mentioned

barrier to walking is barrier to walking is

distance.distance.

C.D.C. Morbidity and Mortality C.D.C. Morbidity and Mortality Report August 16, 2002Report August 16, 2002

BenefitsBenefits Improve Student HealthImprove Student Health

Based on data from the Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Mean Streets 2000, STPP

BenefitsBenefits

Improve Environmental Improve Environmental QualityQuality

Well-planned school Well-planned school sites:sites:

• Reduce drivingReduce driving• Reduce air pollutionReduce air pollution• Reduce need for Reduce need for

school parking lots, school parking lots, reducing polluted reducing polluted runoffrunoff

BenefitsBenefits


Substantial research links ozone and particulate air Substantial research links ozone and particulate air pollution with worsened symptoms and pollution with worsened symptoms and increased hospitalization for asthmaincreased hospitalization for asthma

A recent study for the first time documented A recent study for the first time documented children exercising in high ozone areas are at children exercising in high ozone areas are at higher risk of becoming asthmaticshigher risk of becoming asthmatics

BenefitsBenefits


Storm water runoff Storm water runoff impairs drinking impairs drinking water treatment, water treatment, making children up making children up to two times more to two times more likely to get sick likely to get sick from from gastrointestinal gastrointestinal illnesses.illnesses.

Examples of Smart Growth Examples of Smart Growth SchoolsSchools

• Renovate an Existing SchoolRenovate an Existing School

• Build a Well-Designed New School in an Build a Well-Designed New School in an Existing CommunityExisting Community

• Retrofit a Non-Educational Facility for Retrofit a Non-Educational Facility for use use as a School Buildingas a School Building

• Build a Well-Designed New School for a Build a Well-Designed New School for a Walkable New NeighborhoodWalkable New Neighborhood

Thompson Middle School Thompson Middle School Newport, RINewport, RI

Renovate an Existing SchoolRenovate an Existing School

Located just off Newport’s Main Street Located just off Newport’s Main Street downtown, the historic Thompson downtown, the historic Thompson

School serves as a community center School serves as a community center as well a school. Newport’s Mayor as well a school. Newport’s Mayor Sardella says the renovated school Sardella says the renovated school

helped to revitalize Newport’s helped to revitalize Newport’s downtown.downtown.


The school district renovated a 1897 school building The school district renovated a 1897 school building and built two new wings on either side of it.and built two new wings on either side of it.

Thompson Middle School-Wayne Soverns, Jr.Thompson Middle School-Wayne Soverns, Jr.


Residents attend civic meetings in the Residents attend civic meetings in the school’s cafetorium.school’s cafetorium.

Thompson Middle School-Wayne Thompson Middle School-Wayne Soverns, Jr.Soverns, Jr.

Jefferson Elementary SchoolJefferson Elementary SchoolManitowoc, WIManitowoc, WI

Build a Well-Designed New School Build a Well-Designed New School

in an Existing Communityin an Existing Community

The school board had land available on the The school board had land available on the edge of town, but followed community edge of town, but followed community wishes to build a new school in town on wishes to build a new school in town on the site of a much beloved but outdated the site of a much beloved but outdated

elementary school. elementary school.

Jefferson Elementary SchoolJefferson Elementary SchoolManitowoc, WIManitowoc, WI

The new school uses classical architecture and The new school uses classical architecture and

incorporates murals saved from the old school incorporates murals saved from the old school

while providing state-of-the-art facilities.while providing state-of-the-art facilities.

The Village at Indian Hill Pueblo School The Village at Indian Hill Pueblo School Complex Complex

Pomona, CAPomona, CA

Retrofit a Non-Educational Facility Retrofit a Non-Educational Facility for use as a School Buildingfor use as a School Building

In the mid-90’s 1/3 of students in the In the mid-90’s 1/3 of students in the Pomona Unified school district were in Pomona Unified school district were in

temporary classrooms. The school temporary classrooms. The school district needed to build new schools, but district needed to build new schools, but was having trouble finding suitable sites. was having trouble finding suitable sites.

The district did find an aging 550,000 The district did find an aging 550,000 square foot shopping mall. square foot shopping mall.

The Village at Indian Hill Pueblo School The Village at Indian Hill Pueblo School Complex Pomona, CAComplex Pomona, CA

The Village at Indian Hill Pueblo School The Village at Indian Hill Pueblo School Complex Complex

Pomona, CAPomona, CA

The Village how consists of 3 elementaryThe Village how consists of 3 elementaryschools, 1 high school, staff training centers, schools, 1 high school, staff training centers,

Head Start, a child care center and retail shops.Head Start, a child care center and retail shops.

Woodland Elementary SchoolWoodland Elementary SchoolFairview, ORFairview, OR

New School for New NeighborhoodNew School for New Neighborhood

Outside of Portland, Oregon developers of Outside of Portland, Oregon developers of a new smart-growth style development a new smart-growth style development worked with businesses and the school worked with businesses and the school

district to bring a new elementary school district to bring a new elementary school to the town. They felt a school was to the town. They felt a school was

essential to the success of their plan to essential to the success of their plan to build a complete ‘smart growth’ build a complete ‘smart growth’

community.community.



The school is within a quarter mile of home in the The school is within a quarter mile of home in the Village, and federal transportation funds helped build Village, and federal transportation funds helped build a lighted walking trail from the Village to the school.a lighted walking trail from the Village to the school.

What are the barriers to Smart What are the barriers to Smart Growth Schools?Growth Schools?

• 2/3, 60% Rule, Financial Biases 2/3, 60% Rule, Financial Biases

Against RenovationAgainst Renovation

• Site StandardsSite Standards

• Inadequate Feasibility StudiesInadequate Feasibility Studies

““Our current policies encourage the Our current policies encourage the construction of massive, isolated construction of massive, isolated

schools that are inaccessible to the schools that are inaccessible to the communities they serve. One of the communities they serve. One of the

keys to improving education is a keys to improving education is a sense of community where teacher, sense of community where teacher, student and parent all feel a sense student and parent all feel a sense

of ownership in their school.”of ownership in their school.”

Governor Mark Sanford, South CarolinaGovernor Mark Sanford, South Carolina2003 State of the State Address2003 State of the State Address

2/3 Rule2/3 Rule

60% Rule60% Rule

BarriersBarriers and Solutionsand Solutions

Many states recommend that new schools be built Many states recommend that new schools be built whenever the costs of renovating existing schools whenever the costs of renovating existing schools

exceeds some arbitrary percentage of new exceeds some arbitrary percentage of new construction costs. This policy is adopted even when construction costs. This policy is adopted even when renovation options could yield “like new” schools at a renovation options could yield “like new” schools at a

significant savings to the public.significant savings to the public.

BarriersBarriers andand SolutionsSolutions

Pennsylvania has eliminated itsPennsylvania has eliminated its

60% rule.60% rule.

Maryland’s Public School Construction Maryland’s Public School Construction

Program favors renovating versus Program favors renovating versus

constructing new schools.constructing new schools.


Unreasonable Site StandardsUnreasonable Site Standards

1 acre for every 100 students1 acre for every 100 students+ 10 acres for an elementary school+ 10 acres for an elementary school

+20 acres for a middle school+20 acres for a middle school+30 acres for a high school+30 acres for a high school

Barriers andBarriers and SolutionsSolutions

The State of Maine published a The State of Maine published a brochure, “The ABC’s of School brochure, “The ABC’s of School

SiteSiteSelection.” It promotes smart Selection.” It promotes smart

growth growth concepts in school facility concepts in school facility planning.planning.

AAvoid sprawl!void sprawl!

BBe site savvy!e site savvy!

CConsult the community!onsult the community!


Inadequate Feasibility StudiesInadequate Feasibility Studies

Many people, including many school Many people, including many school architects, are unfamiliar with architects, are unfamiliar with

renovation options and techniques. As renovation options and techniques. As a result the costs of renovation are a result the costs of renovation are often overestimated and renovation often overestimated and renovation

possibilities are overlooked.possibilities are overlooked.

Barriers andBarriers and SolutionsSolutions

The Columbus Landmarks Foundation The Columbus Landmarks Foundation conducted a study of selected historic conducted a study of selected historic

schools in an effort to demonstrate schools in an effort to demonstrate renovation to state-of-the-art standards is renovation to state-of-the-art standards is

less expensive than new construction.less expensive than new construction.

THE RESULTS…..THE RESULTS…..

4 schools examined demonstrated 4 schools examined demonstrated significant savings through renovation. significant savings through renovation.

The savings totaled $9 million.The savings totaled $9 million.

SMART GROWTH SCHOOLSSMART GROWTH SCHOOLSTHE ENDTHE END

Thompson Middle School-Wayne Thompson Middle School-Wayne

Soverns, JrSoverns, Jr..

For more information…..For more information…..

www.nthp.orgwww.nthp.org

www.smartgrowthamerica.orgwww.smartgrowthamerica.org

SMART GROWTH SCHOOLS. What is a Smart Growth School? 1. Definition 2. Benefits 3. Examples 4. Barriers.

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