Laserfiche WebLink
Closed Schools: Impact on Community Usage <br /> Page 7 <br /> 111/1 <br /> which the School District reimbursed the City and revenues from programs generated <br /> an additional $53,000, which left a cost to the City of Robbinsdale of approximately <br /> $60,000. It should be noted that the $60,000 figure does not include department <br /> office space rental which had become necessary and did include start up costs for <br /> supplies, etc. which are re-usable. As a final note the Robbinsdale Jr. High School <br /> is 210,000 square feet or almost double the size of either Edgewood or Johanna Jr. <br /> High Schools. <br /> The St. Louis Park School District converted Central Junior High School into a resource <br /> center in 1980 and converted three elementary schools from 1976 - 1979. Their basic <br /> concept was to make the closed school facilities available for non-profit, community <br /> serving agencies . Facilities included within their four resource centers include: <br /> 1. Day Care 6. Hennepin County Vo-Tech <br /> 2. Community Theatre 7. Montessori School <br /> 3. Senior Citizens 8. Camp Fire Girls <br /> 111/1 <br /> 4. United Cerebral Palsy 9. Tree Trust <br /> 5. Private Lutheran high school 10. West Hennepin Planning Board <br /> With the three existing elementary school resource centers, Central Jr. High has been <br /> utilized mainly as an office space center for non-profit organizations. <br /> The St. Louis Park School Board policy stipulates that all utility and the majority <br /> of custodial costs must be covered through the lease/rental agreements . This policy <br /> is currently being met at all four locations with Central Jr. High also paying <br /> for all custodial costs. <br /> One of the major considerations in the development of the resource center concept <br /> in St. Louis Park was to ensure community accessibility and usage of the gymnasium <br /> and pool facilities. The City currently has access to all available gymnasium and <br /> pool facilities at no rental charge. <br /> 111/1 In summary there are a myriad of options available to closing school facilities. The <br /> "track record" for school conversions is wide and varied in both approaches and fiscal <br /> success. One of the overriding concepts or concerns for each of the communities we <br /> interviewed was to assure that community access was feasible. <br />