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Chapter I. ALTERNATIVE USES OF SURPLUS SCHOOL SPACE <br />1.1 Minnesota Survey <br />In an effort to identify how Minnesota school districts have used or disposed <br />of surplus school space resulting from school closures between 1977 -83, a <br />survey (Appendix A) was sent to all school districts. Responses to this survey <br />and related information on closed schools are summarized below. <br />Closed Schools and Disposition of Surplus School Space <br />Schools Closed (1977 -83): <br />Elementary 184 <br />Secondary 56 <br />Total Schools Closed 240 <br />Surveys Sent Out: 434 <br />Surveys Returned: 297 <br />Return Percentage: 68.4% <br />School Districts Reporting School Closures /Sharing: 95 <br />Disposition or Use of Surplus Number Reported by <br />School Space School Districts <br />Sold to private organization 62 <br />Used for community education 59 <br />Used by education 'agencies 45 <br />Sold /deeded to public organization 38 <br />Vacant 28 <br />Used by government agencies 27 <br />Used for recreation 23 <br />Used for storage 23 <br />Used for day care 18 <br />Used for adult education 17 <br />Used by senior citizens 12 <br />Used for private offices 8 <br />Used for medical /dental services 4 <br />Used by retail /corporate concerns 3 <br />Used for housing 2 <br />The above data reflects the fact that individual schools may have reported more <br />than one use (e.g., community education, day care, senior citizens) for surplus <br />space in a building. The data is incomplete in that all school districts did <br />not indicate specifically to whom the surplus space was leased, or specifically <br />how surplus space was being shared. School buildings were reported as vacant <br />because in some instances school districts had not made a decision, or were in <br />the process of selling or leasing the building, or the school district deemed <br />the building unsuitable for further use because it was too old and /or outmoded. <br />Further inferences from the survey results include the following: <br />a) Selling or deeding over the school building was the most common dis- <br />position of surplus school space. <br />b) Community uses of surplus school space are very common. <br />48 <br />3 <br />