Surplus School Space: Options and Opportunities. A Report.

Many school districts experiencing declining enrollments and the resultant surplus space have, with active citizen input, found workable solutions that increase the stability of neighborhoods by enriching the lives of persons of all ages. This report is a guide for educators and citizens seeking alternative uses of vacant facilities. Suggestions are made for planning that involve making enrollment projections, calculating building operation costs, considering unmet educational needs, and allowing for state and federal laws affecting the use of school buildings. A brief section reexamines the demographic picture. The main body of the text describes some of the alternative facility uses that include human services centers; use by other government agencies; and conversion to housing, private schools, colleges, and adult education facilities. The final section contains names and addresses of the districts cited, additional information sources, and a list of Educational Facilities Laboratories (EFL) reports. (MLF)