4330 - Use of School Facilities Policy

Policy 4330

COMMUNITY RELATIONS

Use of School District Facilities

The board believes that public school district facilities are owned and operated by and for the community. The public is encouraged to use school district facilities, but will be expected to reimburse the district for such use to ensure that funds intended for education are not used for other purposes. Public use of school district facilities may not interfere with the instructional program.

The superintendent is authorized to establish procedures for use of school district facilities, including rental rates, supervisory requirements, restrictions, and security. Such procedures will include designation of a central point of contact for reserving facilities. Those using school district facilities will be required to provide proof of insurance for accident and liability covering persons using the district’s facilities under the sponsorship of the organization.

The district does not discriminate based on race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably-discharged veteran or military status, sex, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, marital status, the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability and provides equal access to Boy Scouts of America and other designated youth groups. Use of school district facilities in violation of the district’s nondiscrimination policy is not permitted.

Scheduled school and district-sponsored activities, including curricular and co-curricular functions, retain first priority in use of facilities. For rental rate purposes and priority of scheduling public use of school district facilities, organizations seeking the use of school district facilities have been divided into the following categories:

Formal Partnership Agreements
The district may enter into formal partnership agreements with community agencies or organization for the mutual benefit of students and community members. The district will give formal partnership agreements priority in scheduling use of school district facilities. This includes school PTO/PTA activities.

School or Child-Related Groups or Other Government Agencies
School or Child-related Groups or Other Government Agencies include those organizations whose main purpose is to promote the welfare of students, or to provide members of the community access to government programs or opportunities for civic participation. Examples are: Scouts, Campfire, 4-H, city or county sponsored recreation groups, polling places, political caucuses and governmental groups.  The district will provide official recruiting representatives of the state and United States military forces, Job Corps, Peace Corps and AmeriCorps with access to school facilities (including number of days and type of presentation space) equal to and no less than the access provided to other post-secondary occupational or educational representatives.
 
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When facilities are used outside of regular school hours, or when the district incurs extra utility, cleaning or supervision costs, a fee, established by the superintendent, will be charged to recoup those costs. Additionally, youth organizations engaged in sports activities and using school facilities must provide a statement of compliance with the policies for the management of concussion and head injury in youth sports as required by RCW 28A.600.

Nonprofit Groups
Nonprofit groups and organizations may use school facilities for lectures, promotional activities, rallies, entertainment, college courses, or other activities for which public halls or commercial facilities generally are rented or owned. The district may charge a rental rate in excess of costs incurred.  Excess charges may be waived when a service club or other nonprofit group is raising funds for charitable purposes.

Professional fund raisers representing charities must provide evidence that they are registered and bonded by the state of Washington. Such fund-raisers must provide evidence that the charity will receive at least sixty (60) percent of the gross revenues received from the public prior to approval to use the facilities.

Similar treatment may be granted public universities and colleges when offering college courses within the community or when any university/college is offering a course for staff at the request of the district. Nonprofit groups of the kind that in most communities have their own facilities (churches, lodges, veterans groups, granges, etc.) who wish to use district facilities on a regular, but temporary, basis may do so under this rental rate.

Nonprofit groups charging participation or entrance fees, except for charity fund raisers, may be charged the commercial enterprise rate at the discretion of the district.
 
Commercial Enterprises
Commercial Enterprises include profit-making organizations and business-related enterprises. While the district would prefer these organizations use commercial or private facilities, facilities may be rented for non-regular use at the prevailing rate charged by commercial facilities in the area.

Authorization for use of school facilities will not be considered as endorsement or approval of the activity, group or organization.

Adoption Date:      December 11, 2018