Save Cedar Rapids Schools 2017-18

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Cedar Rapids' Neighborhoods are being rejuvenated by proud homeowners. Many homes around Johnson STEAM Academy have seen renovations like above. If you look carefully at the neighborhoods surrounding the schools on the "borderline", their housing stock is improving and young families are occupying them. Garfield's neighborhood is in proximity to the proposed Mount Mercy and Coe College - College District and provides an affordable and desirable location to raise a family. Save Cedar Rapids Schools point is that there are valuable assets in our current neighborhoods and removing a school from the equation may cause irrepairable damage to the community at large.

All neighborhoods benefit from outdoor spaces, community gardens, parks and playgrounds. The Green School movement is strong and applies to new buildings as well as old. The US Green Building Council's Center for Green Schools identifies examples of Communities in Action. Many of these green initiatives create new learning spaces, or outdoor classrooms, for existing buildings.

The additional advantage of existing historic schools is a student's ability to walk and ride bikes to school. A walkable neighborhood includes parks, retail, and a school. The American Academy of Pediatrics identifies exercise as a part of the remedy to reduce child obesity,

In the broader neighborhood community context The National Trust for Historic Preservation highlights the value of restoration over abandonment. In the Preservation Green Lab creative and innovative communities exhibit the great assets that have been re-purposed to preserve and invigorate older neighborhoods. The National Trust has also collected data and provided insights to the public on the value of smaller schools in established neighborhoods. Why Johnny Can't Walk To School highlights some assumptions districts make which if reviewed carefully are contributing to urban sprawl and not serving the students as well.