Imagine a school with an on-site health clinic, a YMCA, and community college courses for adults in the evenings. On weekends, it's a place where community members hold potluck dinners, and Saturday afternoon basketball games. You've just imagined the contemporary school -- and it's being created across the nation.

Across the country, public schools are becoming the modern-day equivalent of the village green, where new activities and opportunities for students, adults, and community members of all ages are offered long after the last bell has rung. These "schools that never sleep" have the potential to inspire community members to provide more financial support to their local schools and inspire students with exciting learning opportunities. KnowledgeWorks Foundation is leading this effort by encouraging Ohioans, and others across the nation, to redesign schools around the personality and aspirations of their communities.

Often, the failure of schools and communities to plan collaboratively leads to missed opportunities. Engaging communities in the school design process can enable schools and community organizations to share vital resources, help ensure long-term economic growth, help secure long-term community support, offer students unparalleled learning opportunities, and create schools that reflect the aspirations of the entire community.