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Only One-Third of K-8 Students Can Easily Walk To School Study Finds Older, Community-Centered Schools Are Good for Environment, Children's Health As older community-centered schools across the nation continue to be threatened with closure, and new schools are constructed ever farther from the people they serve, a new report issued by the National Trust for Historic Preservation examines these trends, and asks: what policies are needed to encourage the preservation and development of community-centered schools? The answers to that question, offered by an array of experts in a wide range of fields, provide the basis for the National Trust’s report, which concludes that community-centered schools offer a range of benefits, including encouraging healthier families, improving air quality and saving school districts money. Produced through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and through the generous support of the Jessie Ball duPont Fund and the Building Educational Success Together collaborative, the report’s aim is to break down barriers to community-centered schools and help school districts save money through lower construction, busing, and operating costs. The report, “Helping Johnny Walk To School: Policy Recommendations for Removing Barriers to Community-Centered Schools” is the National Trust’s latest effort to focus attention on the perilous state of community-centered schools in America. “Recent surveys suggest that only about one-third of K-8 students now live within two miles of their school,” said Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. “When schools are built on the outskirts of the community, not only do children lose the option of walking to school, it also means that schools no longer occupy their traditional role as centers of community life. To combat this unwelcome trend, we urge states and communities to consider the recommendations provided in this report.” The report identifies several benefits to community-centered schools, including: Community-centered schools encourage healthier families Children who live nearby are more likely to walk or bike to school. Families and neighbors can use facilities for exercise when school is out. Increased physical activity improves children’s health and decreases their likelihood of obesity. Improved air quality By reducing the number of vehicle miles traveled and number of cars on the road, community-centered schools can improve air quality and reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions. Savings on construction and operating costs For several reasons — including sharing of facilities and avoiding the cost of acquiring new land and building a new school — community-centered schools save taxpayer dollars.
After consulting with a diverse range of professionals, the following policy changes were set forth to guide policy makers across the country to encourage more community-centered schools: Systematically Evaluate School Closing and Consolidation Options Communities should evaluate all of the educational, health, environmental, and fiscal implications and ensure a reuse plan for abandoned schools. Remove Minimum Acreage Requirements Requiring large sites (often in excess of 30-50 acres) often prevents local communities from reusing older schools or constructing new ones in existing neighborhoods. Remove the Bias in State Funding for New Construction In some states, funding formulas adhere to an arbitrary “percentage rule” which calls for the construction of new buildings even if the renovation option is less expensive. Encourage Reuse of Older Buildings Older buildings can be rehabilitated with 21st century technology to meet current educational and energy-efficiency requirements Require Full Cost Analysis for New Construction Full consideration of the transportation, infrastructure, and health costs, often borne by other public agencies, should be considered when siting decisions are made. Promote Coordinated Planning Among City Agencies Cooperation between local governments and school districts encourages efficient use of taxpayer dollars and ensures a community’s multiple goals are met. Encourage Sharing of Facilities Reduced construction and operational costs are among the many benefits of sharing facilities. Fund Regular Maintenance and Repair Address deferred maintenance issues, for example, before small problems become major problems. Re-evaluate Student Transportation Costs For example, costs of busing and new roads, are often paid by states and municipalities which in turn allows districts to choose more distant school sites. A complete copy of the report is available here. Source: The National Trust for Historic Preservation |
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