Lower Valley School Receives Over $14 K for Restoration Project

(July 22, 2008) The Lower Valley School District #33, a historic rural schoolhouse housed on the Northeast Lakeview College campus, recently received almost $15,000 towards its restoration project. The money comes from a generous gift from three organizations: the Universal City Industrial Development Corporation, the Live Oak Economic Development Corporation, and a grant funded by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

The Universal City Industrial Development Corporation donated $5,795.62 to the project. “Universal City and its economic board recognize that education is paramount to the future viability of the region and are pleased to donate to this worthwhile endeavor,” says Kim Turner, Development Services Director – the City of Universal City.  “We are not just preserving a building, but a memory, a period in our history that helped define who we are as a community.  The Lower Valley schoolhouse donation is indicative of the symbiotic relationship between Universal City and the Northeast Lakeview College.”

Additionally, the Live Oak Economic Development Corporation donated $5,993.45 to support the Lower Valley School. “The restoration project is so significant in what the ACCD is doing with its campus.  The restoration project is going to become a living museum for kids.  It’ll be a community gathering place,” says Joe Painter, Mayor -City of Live Oak.  The ACCD is proving once again that they are not a stand-alone school.”

NLC also received a $3,000 matching-funds grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP) whose mission is to provide leadership, education and advocacy to save America's diverse historic places and revitalize our communities. The $3,000 funded a grant writer consultant to develop and submit grant proposals to private foundations. A consultant has already been hired and is currently working with NLC to submit a targeted number of proposals to support the restoration of the Lower Valley School.

Between these three organizations, Northeast Lakeview College received $14,789.07 and to date, the College has raised $30,000 in gifts, grants and in-kind services to support the schoolhouse restoration project. “We are delighted to have so much community support for this project,” says Dr. Eric Reno, Northeast Lakeview College president. “It is through this generosity that we will be able to preserve the past to enrich the future and educate generations on the heritage of our community.”

The schoolhouse was given to Northeast Lakeview College in 2007 and was relocated onto the College campus in February of this year. NLC continues to raise funds to restore the schoolhouse to a living history museum where children will relive history as they spend a day, on a field trip, experiencing early, rural education. Children will wear period clothing, bring their lunches in pails, and play traditional schoolyard games during recess.

If you would like more information or to make a donation, visit the website at www.accd.edu/nlc/lvs/ or call the Office of Grants and College Development at 210.590-5469. A formal announcement was held on July 22nd at Northeast Lakeview College.