Seville Village Improvement Association

Mission Statement for the Seville Village Improvement Association's Historic Seville School Preservation Project

The Seville Public School has been the heart and soul of the Seville Community for almost 100 years.  The mission of the Seville Village Improvement Associationʼs Seville Public School Preservation Project is to conserve and protect this important part of Sevilleʼs history in a manner that respects it as a valuable part of the communityʼs heritage while providing a unique and beautiful facility for the service programs needs so desperately by the communityʼs citizens both young and old.

The facility has both large and small classrooms and meeting spaces, office spaces, a cafeteria, a small auditorium, and grounds that include a gymnasium, playground area and athletic fields.  It Is envisioned that these facilities would be utilized to accomplish the following:

• Protect the historical integrity of the Seville School Site through the preservation of the historically important aspects of the buildings and grounds
• Establish a safe repository for historical exhibits to showcase the rich history of Seville and Northwest Volusia county
• Provide classroom space for educational enrichment programs for all age groups
• Provide space for a community library
• Provide a central meeting space for members of the community  and community organizations and the public
• Provide office space for non-governmental private and public community service organizations to provide services to the community
• Provide facilities for youth and adult recreational opportunities and fitness enrichment programs
• Provide facilities for community social events and historical festivals
• Provide a focal point to unify our culturally diverse community
• Adapt to the changing needs of the community

Historic Seville School

This beautiful historic structure is nestled in the shadow of a magnificent Live Oak tree and sits on HWY 17 in rural NorthWest Volusia County,Seville, Florida.

On January 29th, 2009, the Seville Village Improvement Association acquired the 96 year old historic Seville School site in which generations of children were educated and nurtured.

Listed on the Volusia County Historic Register and the Endangered Historic Properties in Volusia County (a List Endorsed by the Volusia County Historic Preservation Board, Inc.). and eligible for the National Historic Register.

"Originally a four-room schoolhouse constructed in 1913, the Seville Public School replaced earlier schools in this historic community. In 1924, an addition was constructed on the south end and used as a high school for several years. The facility was closed and declared obsolete in 2008. An excellent candidate for reuse, this charming building’s future is in jeopardy and is additionally threatened by potential expansion of U.S. Highway17."

(Quoted from the Endangered Historic Properties in Volusia County http://volusiahistory.com/endangered.htm)

In 1924 when the southern addition was constructed grades 6-12 were addded. In the early 1960's grades 7-12 were transfered to the new T. Dewitt Taylor Junior Senior High School in Pierson. By the early 1990's, the 6th grade students were transfered to the T. Dewitt Taylor Middle High School, as it was then named. Seville Public School then continued to operated as an elementary school, teaching grades k-5 until June 2008 when the facility was closed in the first of a series of school closings by the Volusia County School Board in an attempt to compensate for severe budget cuts.

Our goal is to preserve the integrity of the Historic Seville School site, to establish historical displays highlighting the largely unknown and rich history of Seville, a public library, community resource center and opportunites for everyone in the community, young and old, and in so doing, we hope to unify our culturally diverse community.

Acquisition Timeline

• December 4th, 2008: $47,250 ECHO Grant Application Submission.
• January 30th, 2009: Historic Seville School becomes property of the Seville Village Improvement Association! First of three installments paid to Volusia County School Board.
• February 15th, 2009: Volusia County ECHO Grant Review Board approval for acquisition reimbursement of the Historic Seville School.
• March 19th, 2009: Volusia County Council gave final approval for the $47,250 ECHO Grant.
• April 30th, 2009: Second of third installment paid to Volusia County School Board.
• April 30th, 2010: Final installment due to Volusia County School Board.

We would like to thank the following:

• Volusia County School Board for taking such good care of the Seville Public School building over the years, their willingness and cooperation in the designation as a historic property on the Volusia County Historic Register, and lastly for giving the community of Seville the opportunity to purchase the valued school buildings.
• Volusia County Historic Preservation Board for recognizing the historic value of the school by its identification on the Volusia County Historic Register, and to to Julie Scofield, Historic Preservation Officer, who facilitated the process and continues to help us in our efforts.
• Volusia County ECHO staff and County Council for assisting us in the acquisition of this historic community landmark by the approval of the $47,250 matching grant.
• Finally and most importantly, we would like to thank those individuals, made up of local residents and Seville Public School alumni, who graciously donated a combined $47,250, making it possible for us to acquire the school.