Myakka City School House passion prevails despite setback

Although students haven't walked through the door of the Myakka City School House since 1993, the education continues.

Math and science have been replaced by lessons about perseverance, civic duty and emotional fortitude.

For 24 years, members of the Myakka City Historical Society, along with many residents of the community, have poured their hearts and souls into completely renovating the 5,500 square foot School House, which was built in 1914, so it can be used as a public events center, meeting place, library and museum.

That effort, once again, was slapped down in May when the state legislature passed an $83 billion budget along to Gov. Rick Scott, without the School House project.

The School House, located on county land at 10060 Wauchula Road, Myakka City, was up for a Bureau of Historic Preservation grant of $246,319 that was listed as the No. 34 project on the Special Category Grant list. County Commissioner Vanessa Baugh, during a visit to Tallahassee early in the year, said legislators had assured her the project would be funded.

Cathy Slusser, the director of historical resource for the county who gave countless hours of her time to writing the grant, said in April she felt confident it would pass.

Emotions soared as it appeared the School House would be back open for business, albeit in a different role, in 2019.

Denied.

"We've been working on it a very long time," said Marilyn Coker, who is 80 and has been part of the struggle since its beginning. "It is very disappointing the state felt the preservation and tourism it would generate wasn't important enough. But this is just another glitch in the plan. We're going to finish it."

Coker said her resolve is shared with other members of the community, who have pledged their support of the effort despite the setback. In some ways, it is an effort that has polarized the small community.

"We're going to find a way to get this done," said Baugh, who believes it is an important historical piece of the county that must be preserved.

Although spirits soared when it appeared the grant would pass, Coker said the Myakka City Historical Society had a Plan B just in case it didn't. She said her organization would submit a grant to the William G. and Marie Selby Foundation, which gives priority to projects that focus on "education, human services, arts and community, including history, science and/or the environment."

Coker said William Selby owned property in Myakka City and the foundation has been generous to School House projects in the past. The Selby grant paperwork is due in July and a possible grant could be received as soon as December.

Slusser continues to help with the grant writing and the Myakka City Historical Society must obtain three bids for the restoration of the interior of the building to present with the grant. Another grant application is being made to the Conquisadore Historical Foundation of the Hernando DeSoto Historical Society.

Meanwhile, Scott Paint has donated half the paint needed for the exterior of the building, which also will get new gutters, insulation, a new smoke wall and a new fire alarm system this summer.

The Myakka City Historical Society, which owns the building, has about $62,000 it has raised to go toward such projects.

It's unfortunate our state legislators squashed this request. Elliott Falcione, the director of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, said the restoration of the School House would present another important tourist destination in eastern Manatee County. "We need to cluster tourist attractions," is how he put it. He said it would help to create a trail for tourists to schedule a half day or full day outing.

That's big money on the line for Manatee County to eventually use on all kinds of projects.

Let's hope Coker, the Historical Society and the community can continue the good fight, and will someday be rewarded.

"I have some great people backing me up," Coker said.