As the saying goes, when one door closes another one opens.

Friday, City officials said "no" to Sandra Lassiter's plan to build a community center for historic Sumner School, saying she did not meet the requirements of the contract. So she and other members of Community First went before the city council asking them to open a door.

"Community First has risen to the occasion every single time that we have come under a challenge," Lassiter said.

Some cried before the Council, thinking the school would be demolished.

Others simply asked for the very thing Community First wanted, more time to satisfy the city's requirements for the contract.

Gary Parnell spoke simply because he was impressed by Lassiter's resolve.

"So many historic buildings in Topeka have been torn down like the old Capitol Federal building, the old Topeka Library on the capital," Parnell said. "(Sumner) is a diamond in the rough and it should be saved."

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Historic Sumner School

But he and Community first will have to wait longer to fix up the national historic landmark.

The Council voted to consider extending the contract after its next Council meeting.

Lassiter says she still has hope.

"I feel pretty good about it because I feel at least they understand better why we need the extension," she said.

And her fight will continue on. Lassiter is asking supporters of the school to call their City council member.