905 Community Use & Building Environment

905.01 Community Use of District Buildings, Sites & Equipment

School district facilities and equipment will be made available to local nonprofit entities which promote cultural, educational, civic, community, or recreational activities.  "Entity(ies)" will include organizations, groups and individuals and their agents.  Any district employee using district-owned property or facilities for a use outside their duties as an employee is doing so as a community member, and not as a district employee.  Prior to using district resources for activities outside the scope of their job duties, employees must meet the requirements to be considered a qualifying entity.  Such use will be permitted only when the use does not interfere with or disrupt the education program or a school-related activity, the use is consistent with state law, and will end no later than midnight.  It is within the discretion of the board to allow for-profit entities to use school district facilities and equipment.  The board reserves the right to deny use of the facilities and equipment to an entity.  It is within the discretion of the superintendent to allow use of school district facilities and equipment on Sundays.

All requests for the use of District facilities and/or equipment shall be made through the district office or website. It is the responsibility of the superintendent or the superintendent’s designee to determine whether the District facility and/or equipment is available and whether the potential user’s application meets all necessary requirements.

Entities that use school district buildings, equipment, or sites must leave the building or site in the same condition it was in prior to its use.  Inappropriate use of school district facilities and equipment may result in additional fees charged to, or the inability of, the entity to use school district facilities or equipment in the future.

No facility or equipment may be used that conflicts with the educational program. The superintendent or the superintendent’s designee reserves the right to deny use of the buildings/facilities and/or equipment to any individual and/or group.

There are three classifications of community (non-school) use of District facilities and/or equipment. These classifications have been established for the purpose of determining rental charges and other fees.

1.         Open Gyms: The gymnasiums may be opened before and after school hours, on weekends and during the summer at the discretion of the superintendent or the superintendent’s designee. The school employee opening the gym is responsible for locking it. There will be no direct supervision provided by the District, and the individuals utilizing the gymnasium during this time shall be responsible for all supervision. There will be no charge for the use of the gymnasium during these times.

2.         General: The District facilities and/or equipment’s use is for purposes that are educational, charitable, and/or of general community interest. Such events must be open to the public in general with no admission charged or contributions taken. A custodian shall be present in the building. There will be no basic charge except for custodial help above what is regularly assigned to the building.

3.         Commercial: The District facilities and/or equipment are used by business or commercial organizations, which includes community and locally-sponsored non- community groups requesting the use of school facilities for fund-raising purposes that are not necessarily devoted to educational, charitable, or community interest activities. Admission may be charged or contributions received. There will be a charge for this use, as outlined below.

The use of District facilities and/or equipment by an organization operated for private gain, or any other purpose involving private gain, shall be permitted only when:

1.         Such use is sponsored by some organization that is not operated for private gain;

2.         Such use will not benefit principally the organization that is operated for private gain;

3.         A worthy education, civic, or charitable purpose will be served;

4.         A substantial group in the community will be benefited; or

5.         Alternative facilities are unavailable or available only at undue cost or convenience.

The Superintendent or the Superintendent’s designee shall have sole discretion to determine whether an organization operated for private gain, or any other purpose involving private gain, shall be permitted to use District facilities and/or equipment.

All rentals of the District facilities and/or equipment are handled through the Superintendent or the Superintendent’s designee. A group using any District facilities and/or equipment will be charged for each morning, afternoon, or evening session the facility is used.

Basic charges for heat, lights, and space will be as follows:

 

Open Gym

General

Commercial

Any classroom

 

NC

$ 20.00

Cafeteria or Multipurpose Room w/o kitchen

 

NC

$ 50.00

Cafeteria or Multipurpose Room with kitchen

 

NC

$ 85.00

Any Media Center

 

NC

$ 50.00

Gymnasium

NC

NC

$150.00

Athletic Fields

NC

NC

$150.00

Tailgate Plaza

  NC $500.00

* The District reserves the right to adjust fees for special circumstances.

 

Separate and additional charges may be assessed for cooks and custodial maintenance service as follows:

  1. There will be no charge for custodial services when the building or room is used for educational purposes, including adult education.
  2. When school facilities are used for general purposes, if at a time when a custodian is normally on duty and no additional custodial help is needed, there will be no charge. If used at a time other than when the custodian is normally on duty or additional custodial help is needed, the custodial rate will be at time and a half of the custodian's regular hourly wage, with a minimum charge of two (2) hours. The time will start when the employee opens the doors of the building.
  3. When school facilities are used for commercial purposes, the custodial rate will be $40 per hour, with a minimum charge of two (2) hours. The time will start when the employee opens the doors of the building.
  4. When kitchen facilities are used, a cook must be on duty. The charge will be at the current rate established by the Board.

Supervision of the use of facilities shall be accomplished by appropriate personnel as designated by the superintendent or the building administrator.

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Approved: 8/9/82

Reviewed: 4/8/19

Revised: 9/19/11; 7/8/13; 10/13/25

 

 

905.01E1 Community Use of District Building, Sites & Equipment - Request Form

Facility/Equipment Requested:_____________________________________________________

Date of Event:__________________________________ Alternate Date:___________________

Set Up Time:_________________ Start Time: __________________ End Time: ____________

Group Title: _________________________ Purpose of Activity:________________________

Admission charged? ____Yes ____No ________ Amount______________ For Profit? _____

Contact Person: _________________________________ No. people expected ____________

Address: ________________________________ __________________________________

Phone: (Business) __________________________ (Home) _____________________________

Email Address: _________________________________________________________________

CUSTODIAL SERVICES NEEDED: To Open ____ To Close ____ During use____

EQUIPMENT NEEDED:

 _____ Bleachers                                _____ Lunch Tables               _____Volleyball nets

_____ Chairs                                       _____Writing Tables              _____ Basketball hoops

 _____ Dressing Rooms                     _____Shower Rooms _____ Media Equip:

 _____Microphones                            _____Podium                          _____Stage Lights

 

Other:  ___________________________________________________________________________________

            ____________________________________________________________________________________

The undersigned user makes application for the use of the school district facility or equipment as designated below.  Please refer to policy 905.01 regarding proper use of school facilities and equipment. The entity hereby agrees to follow all applicable Board policies and the law in its use of District facilities and/or equipment. The user specifically agrees to follow the following rules:

1.         NO SMOKING in school buildings or on school grounds.

2.         Only the group requesting the use of facilities is to be in the school buildings.

3.         The hold-harmless agreement below must be signed by a person representing the group before the use of the facilities and/or equipment.  

 

HOLD-HARMLESS AGREEMENT:

The undersigned, hereafter referred to as “entity,” states that it will hold the Spirit Lake Community School District, hereafter referred to as “District,” its employees, officers, agents, and/or representatives harmless from any and all damages and claims that may arise in connection with the entity’s use of any facilities and/or equipment owned by the District whether such damages and claims pertain to the entity itself or its guests. In case any action is brought against the District or any of its officers, employees or agents, and/or representatives the entity will assume full responsibility for the legal defense thereof, and upon its failure to do so upon proper notice, the District reserves the right to defend such action and to recover all costs, including attorneys’ fees, from the entity.

 

Signature:______________________________________ Date: ________________________

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DISTRICT OFFICE USE ONLY:              ____Approved                 ____Disapproved  

                     

 ______________________________________________________________________                                                                                                                                                              Supt/Principal

If approved:   $_______________ Use fee       $__________ Custodial fee   $______________ Total fees

 ____________________Recorded  _________________Date

Please send fee to Business Manager, Spirit Lake Community Schools, 2701 Hill Avenue, Spirit Lake, Iowa 51360 within thirty (30) days.

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Approved:

Reviewed: 4/8/19

Revised: 7/8/13; 10/13/25

 

905.02 Tobacco/Nicotine-Free Environment

The Spirit Lake Community School District is a tobacco/nicotine free district property.

The use of tobacco and nicotine products; including, but not limited to, cigarettes, nicotine chew, snus, dissolvables, vaping devices and/or other nicotine products that are not approved by the Federal Drug Administration for tobacco cessation; on District property or within 300 feet; including in District buildings, on District grounds, in District transportation vehicles, or at any District activity; is prohibited.

This policy extends to all students, employees, volunteers and visitors. This policy applies at all times, including during school-sponsored events and during non-school-sponsored events.

Persons violating this policy shall be asked to cease using the tobacco and/or nicotine product, properly dispose of the tobacco and/or nicotine product and refrain from using tobacco and/or nicotine products in the future. Persons failing to abide by this request shall be required to leave the District premises immediately.

It is the district’s intention to provide education, encouragement and assistance for all students, employees and community members in making a personal choice to refrain from tobacco/nicotine use while within or upon any/all district property. This will allow students, employees and community members to share the responsibility for creating a healthy environment, in which we all live, learn and grow. It will be the right and responsibility of all students, employees and community members to observe and support this policy through personal commitment and advocacy.

It shall be the responsibility of all District personnel, and specifically District administrators, to enforce this policy.

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Approved: 2/12/90

Reviewed: 1/14/02

Revised: 11/16/11; 7/8/13;  7/14/14; 4/8/19; 12/9/19; 10/13/25

 

 

905.03 Weapons

The board believes weapons, other dangerous objects and look-a-likes in school district facilities and at school district-approved events cause material and substantial disruption to the school environment or present a threat to the health and safety of students, employees and visitors on the school district premises or property within the jurisdiction of the school district.

All weapons, dangerous objects and look-a-likes are prohibited to be carried, possessed, transported or otherwise stored on school district property and to school district-approved events.  Exceptions to this policy include weapons carried by the following individuals in performance of their official duties: 

  • law enforcement; 
  • military personnel;
  • corrections officers;
  • individuals approved in writing by the Superintendent;
  • students and individuals approved in writing by the Superintendent who are actively engaging in a school district approved firearms safety course, hunter education course or shooting sports activity; and
  • School resource officers/school security guards in accordance with all applicable laws

Individuals found to be in violation of this district policy will be required to immediately remove the weapon, dangerous object or look-a-likes from the school district property or event.  Students found to be in violation of this policy or any other board policies related to weapons will be subject to disciplinary proceedings.  Employees found in violation of this policy may be subject to discipline, up to and including termination.

The district may choose to allow designated staff members to carry firearms on school grounds in accordance with all applicable laws and requirements. The identities of staff members so designated will be considered confidential. Designated staff will strictly adhere to all applicable laws, policies and regulations.  Failure to adhere may result in discipline up to and including termination of employment.  The Superintendent will create regulations necessary to carry out this policy.


 

Approved:  10/13/25                                        Reviewed:                                         Revised: