SOCIETY’S LUNCHEON TO FOCUS ON HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS

The Cleveland Restoration Society (CRS), in partnership with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, will hold its 32nd Annual Community Luncheon on November 23, 2004 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Cleveland Marriott Key Center Ballroom, 127 Public Square, Cleveland, Ohio. Keynote speaker, Royce Yeater, director of the National Trust’s Midwest Office and a nationally recognized authority on historic school renovation, will discuss how historic schools can meet 21st century education standards, save tax dollars and revitalize our neighborhoods. His talk will highlight the issues surrounding school renovation and replacement decisions and illustrate the process with examples of successfully restored schools across the country.

Across the nation billions of dollars are being spent to improve public school buildings, which are often a community’s largest investment in art and architecture. In Ohio, we will spend over $10.2 billion in the next several years on school rebuilding. As communities throughout Ohio decide to renovate or replace historic school buildings, how do we guarantee that Ohio’s children get the best learning environment we can give them and ensure that we invest our tax dollars wisely? Will Ohio’s school facilities policies enable us to achieve our educational goals for our children without damaging important community development priorities?

Ohio’s current school facility funding guidelines make it difficult for communities to choose renovation. The Cleveland Restoration Society and the National Trust for Historic Preservation advocate for state policies that would level the playing field for older and historic neighborhood schools. Restoring historic neighborhood schools typically saves tax dollars, reinvests in existing infrastructure, safeguards our cultural heritage and supports sustainable communities.

As director of the Midwest Office of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Mr. Yeater has a national perspective on state policies affecting historic schools. Through his extensive experience as a practicing architect, he understands the challenges school districts face in making renovation versus replacement decisions.

The community luncheon raises much-needed unrestricted funds for the Cleveland Restoration Society’s programs and operations. Individual tickets for the luncheon range in price from $40 to $125 each. For reservations and more information, contact the Cleveland Restoration Society at (216) 426-1000 or e-mail dbremer@clevelandrestoration.org.

The Cleveland Restoration Society/Preservation Resource Center of Northeastern Ohio is the region’s largest non-profit preservation organization and is a Local Partner affiliate of the National Trust. Founded in 1972, the Society is dedicated to the preservation of greater Cleveland’s historic resources.

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