DOCUMENT RESUME EA 030 437 ED 442 191 Bingler, Stephen AUTHOR What If...New Schools, Better Neighborhoods, More Livable TITLE Communities. Metropolitan Forum Project, Los Angeles, CA. INSTITUTION James G. Irvine Foundation, San Francisco, CA. SPONS AGENCY PUB DATE 1999-00-00 NOTE 46p. Opinion Papers (120) PUB TYPE MF01/PCO2 Plus Postage. EDRS PRICE Case Studies; *Educational Facilities Design; *Educational DESCRIPTORS Facilities Planning; Elementary Secondary Education; *Neighborhood Improvement; Public Schools; *Quality of Life; *School Construction; School Space; *Urban Environment *California IDENTIFIERS ABSTRACT State-mandated reforms in educational practices, such as class-size reduction, have created the need for more and better educational facilities, but pressure from growth and poor planning decisions are stretching other forms of public infrastructure development to the limit and draining economic vitality from cities and towns. Current programs, procedures, and policies need to confront these challenges with smarter strategies for planning and implementation, such as schools that serve as centers of their communities; gymnasiums and play fields that double as community parks and recreation centers; auditoriums that serve as community theaters; and incorporation of centralized libraries, health clinics, and other community services into schools for greater community access and engagement. Smarter schools can also use a wide range of community resources--like museums, zoos, and other existing facilities--to create integrated learning centers. Smarter schools is a concept that also has implications for the so-called "smart growth" strategies for urban and regional planning. An overview of seven case studies that embody some of these smarter planning principles are included. (DFR) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. rn N what U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS CENTER (ERIC) BEEN GRANTED BY M' This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization D. Abe.I originating it. Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality. TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES Points of view or opinions stated in this INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy. 1 T R O P O R U M T A N C T R O O L M E J E P F I SUPPOR T FR OM T H W I F O U N D A T T H E O N N E A M E R V J I I I S new schools ci better neighborhoods more livable communities 3 VISION COMMON A " We need to be thinking long term. There is no short-term solution to the long-term condition of more and more young people needing to be educated. But the fact of the matter is that temporary solutions like portables just are not effective. So I say to all decision makersmembers of school boards, state legislatures. Governors, and the majority in Congresswe need to think long term, we need to think permanent, and we need to get on with the business of building schools that can truly be centers of community and centers of learning. We have a window of opportunity here. "California's population could explode by over 18 million residents in the next Lliv Ri R IC I -I AR I) decades. We can and must make certain U.S. Secretary OF Education that this growth will have a positive. not negative, impact on oar economy and quality of life. I have fought for the wise management of oar natural resources and of have voted to preserve thousands- of acres wetlands-, old-growth forests, and wildlife habitats. Urban sprawl must be stopped. Land must be preserved for enjoyment by the public and for agricultural use in order to keep California number one in the world in farm produce. G ov 1:12NOR GRAY DAVIS BEST COPY AVAILABLE 4 WHAT IF nff the most telling measure of a society is how a community educates its people then education reformers and the "smart growth" movement must all work together to create new schools better neighborhoods more livable communities schools new better neighborhoods 11,11, I t =1 -' ' livable communities more mol=11114.1. BEST OOPY AVAILABLE FOREWORD Better Neighborhoods is no longer just the New Schools title of a one-time Spring gathering of civic and educational leaders at a Getty Center Symposium. It is the vision of a committed cadre of neighborhood, regional and state leaders who see the potential of voter-approved school, park, library, health and other public funds being intelligently utilized to build not only public facilities that keep the rain out, but this com- more livable urban communities in California. As pelling report by Steven Bingler makes clear, to fully realize the promise of such an investment strategy in our State, the Smart Growth and School Reform movements must "converge." DAVID ABEL Chair New Schools Better Neighborhoods A Metropolitan Forum Project September 1999 BEST COPY AVAILABLE rVM 1'0'01 ,...htilz:{v7-' v^o, ibt-x ,gf-4 TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY-3. ITHE CHALLENGE-7. 2 SMART SCHOOLS-9. 3 SMART GROWTH-I5. 4 SMART SCHOOLS MEETS SMART GROWTH-18. 5 CASE STUDIES-22. 6 PLANNING SMARTER-30. 7 INTEGRATED RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT-33. 8 RECOMMENDATIONS-34. 9 CALL TO CONVERGENCE-36. 9 METROPOLITAN FORUM PROJECT "The health and success of California communities is dependent on strategically located, multi-use school facilities. Community services currently provided independently by cities, counties, special districts and schools districts could be provided jointly through neighborhood centers consolidated with neighborhood schools. In this way, community goals, rather than parochial agency goals, could be emphasized and achieved." STEVEN SZALAY Executive Director California State Association of Counties