7510 - USE OF DISTRICT PREMISES
The Board of Education believes that the school premises should be made available for community purposes, provided that such use does not interfere with the educational program of the schools and is harmonious with the purposes of this District. See related Policy 2430 and Policy 5730.
For purposes of this policy, the terms "school premises" or "premises" refers to all indoor and outdoor structures, facilities, and land owned, rented, or leased by the Board. The term "non-school hours" refers to times prior to and after regular classroom instruction on a day that school is in session, and any day that school is not in session, including weekends, holidays, and vacation breaks.
The Board will permit the use of school premises when such permission has been requested in writing by a responsible organization or responsible District citizen and has been approved by the building principal and Superintendent.
Equal access to school facilities will be given without discrimination. However, in weighing competing interests for the use of facilities, the Board will give priority in the following order:
uses and groups directly related to the schools and the operations of the schools including student and teacher groups
uses and organizations indirectly related to the schools
community organizations formed for charitable, civic, social, or educational purposes
department or agencies of the municipal government
other governmental agencies
community church groups
community political groups
The use of school premises shall not be granted for any purpose which is prohibited by law.
The Superintendent shall develop procedures for the granting of permission to use the school premises and shall promulgate rules and regulations for such use which shall include:
use of school equipment in conjunction with the use of school premises must be specifically requested in writing, and may be granted by the procedure by which permission to use school premises is granted. The users of school equipment accept liability for the damage or loss to such equipment that occurs while it is in their use. Where rules so specify, no item of equipment may be used except by a qualified operator;
prohibit the use of intoxicating beverages;
users shall be financially liable for damage to the facilities and for proper chaperonage;
all activities should normally terminate by 12:00 (midnight);
no building is used for commercial gain;
no building is used for any fund raising activity unless the proceeds are for approved charitable, educational, character- building or other community welfare purposes;
out-of-school groups do not begin with their activities until school is dismissed in the afternoon and students have left the building;
on days when school is closed because of snow or other calamity, all activities may still occur at the discretion of the Superintendent;
no group will, under any circumstances, tamper with any electrical or heating controls;
there is no smoking on District property;
groups which use school facilities must furnish a certificate of liability insurance and sign a waiver of liability.
Regulations governing the use of school facilities are as follows:
No smoking, gambling, or use of intoxicating beverages or other drugs permitted on the premises.
The rentee shall be responsible for obtaining and paying for any security/police protection or other staff if, in the judgment of school officials, such staff is needed.
The rentee must provide their own personnel to police the outside doors that have panic bars, if this is desired.
The rentee accepts full responsibility for any or all injuries and claims thereof to all participants and those in attendance.
The rentee must pay all charges for necessary custodian and other school employees. The school principal reserves the right to determine the amount of help each event will need.
Any organization or group of citizens to whom the school ground or facilities have been rented or provide rent free shall accept full responsibility for both the conduct of all who used such grounds or facilities and for the proper care of the buildings and equipment, including the concession stands.
Violations of any of the foregoing regulations shall be cause for refusal of further use of school property.
The Board reserves the right to cancel any contract by giving at least two (2) days notice in writing.
Rental fees will be determined annually.
PERMITS
A permit is necessary when a group or organization wants to use a school building or grounds. An application for a permit must assure the Superintendent that the group/organization complies with all regulations and respects property, equipment and grounds of the school.
A sponsoring organization or group must indicate that it:
intends to provide a program which promotes the welfare of the community or be for community purposes;
guarantees orderly behavior;
underwrites any damages due to its use of the premises;
pays for the use of equipment, property or grounds at the established rates;
possesses liability insurance and signs a waiver of liability.
The following described activities are those which are permitted in school buildings or on school grounds without charge to the using organization or group. The Superintendent/designee is responsible for approving or disapproving requests for such use.
Permits are required for activities such as school activities on school days which do not require the assignment of overtime to custodial personnel. A permit is not required for the principal's use of the building for such purposes as holding conferences or small group meetings of faculty, parents or students. When the building is used without the services of the custodial staff, the principal is responsible for the care and security of the building.
A "Facilities Use Permit" must be issued on a designated form. The following conditions are to be observed:
Times for use of buildings will be reasonable times established at the time of the issuance of the permit.
Fees are assessed in accordance with a schedule adopted annually by the Board. The Board has the authority to waive fees as it deems appropriate.
Permission must be obtained from the principal for the use and re-arrangement of any school equipment or furniture. If such items are to be moved, they are moved by the using organization and replaced in the original location.
If the concession stand is used, it must be cleaned up and left as it was found. Any use of booster or school group concessions must be prior approved by that organization. Proper reimbursement must be made for using a school groups concessions.
PROCESSING THE PERMIT APPLICATION
Application forms are available in the District Office. The application for a permit to use a school building or facilities is filed with the building principal at least thirty (30) days prior to the date of the proposed use.
After the application is cleared by the principal, it is sent to the Superintendent. The District Office arranges for special custodial or kitchen help. After checking for any type of District conflict on the composite calendar, the District Office Secretary notifies the applicant of the approval or disapproval of the request at least seven (7) days in advance of the requested date of use.
USE OF SPECIAL EQUIPMENT
Arrangements for the use of special equipment such as projectors, pianos, public address systems, scoreboard controls or other equipment belonging to the school must be made with the building principal at the time the application is filed. The use of kitchen equipment for food preparation and sanitizing of dishes, utensils and tableware MAY require the assignment of a food service worker.
School equipment must be carefully maintained, accounted for and properly used since it involves a considerable expenditure. It is a general policy not to loan school equipment to outside groups. An exception may be made if a staff member accompanies the group and operates the equipment and the request is approved by the Superintendent.
© Neola 2015