Work to return Sumner Elementary School to its roots as a schoolhouse will continue this month with a fundraiser featuring BET's Jeff Johnson.

The dinner, presented by Community First, is planned for 6 p.m. March 12 at the Sixth Avenue Ballroom, 117 S.W. 6th Ave.

Sandra Lassiter, who has spearheaded efforts to restore the school, said pieces are beginning to fall into place so Community First will have the money needed to restore the building. The group faces a May deadline to prove it can restore the school before the city will hand over the property.

"I kind of left the doubters way back," Lassiter said. "Anybody who knows me knows that I'm legitimately positive about getting this done."

Johnson � also known as "Cousin Jeff" � has appeared on such BET programs as Rap City, and his work as a correspondent for the network has led him to interview leading news makers.

His visit, Lassiter said, will help create a national platform for the restoration efforts. Even some in Topeka, she said, don't "realize the significance of what we are trying to do."

Sumner is a National Historic Site, but has spent years mostly boarded up after being abandoned as an elementary school more than a decade ago as part of desegregation efforts in Topeka Unified School District 501.

Lassiter said she remains undeterred in her efforts, even after USD 501 school board members rejected plans for a charter school at Sumner.

"Things are going very well � very well," she said.

Tickets for the dinner are $20 each, and proceeds will go to restoration efforts. The event is limited to 250 people, and all tickets will be sold in advance. For more information and to purchase tickets, contact Lassiter at (785) 357-7331 or (785) 221-5694. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.

Barbara Hollingsworth can be reached at (785) 295-1285 or barbara.hollingsworth@cjonline.com.

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