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:

* 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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