5200 Community Use

Buildings, Grounds, Equipment Washington County School District - Adopted 8-79; Revised 9-80 (Ref. 53-21-4 and 5)


Table of Contents

1. Purpose
2. Policy
3. Procedure

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1. Purpose:

The Board of Education feels that school facilities are owned by the public and should therefore be made available for any and all public uses of an educational, cultural, recreational or community-well-being nature whenever such use does not interfere with the regular school program or school activities.

2. Policy:

From the School Laws: 53-21-4 and 53-21-5: "Whenever, in its judgment, a Board of Education deems it inadvisable to permit the use of such school property for the purpose requested, it may refuse to allow the use of the building for other than school purposes."

"All Boards of Education may permit public school houses, when not occupied for school purposes, and when the use thereof will not interfere in any way with school purposes, to be used for any other purposes that will not interfere with the seating or other furniture or property and shall make such charges for the use of the same as they decide to be just; provided that the District shall be at no expense for fuel or service of any kind of any such use or privilege and that public school houses shall not be used for commercial purposes."


3. Procedure:

3.1. In compliance with legal requirements the Board feels that the charges should be kept to the lowest legal limit, yet as near the actual cost of operation as can be reasonably estimated.

3.2. The Board is concerned with the problem of protecting public owned property and maintaining decorum in keeping with the standards and ideals of the public school program. Smoking of tobacco, use of drugs, drinking of liquor, undue rowdyism or the use of profane language on school premises shall be prohibited. 

3.3. In order to maintain the above standards, the Board, through its employed personnel, shall give such assistance as is reasonable but the responsibility for the above rests with the groups or agency using the building. 

3.4. The principal of the school is charged with the responsibility of the building. Applications for its use should be filed with him.   He/she delegates responsibilities for necessary services to the custodian and other employees and is empowered to deny the use of the building to any group who failed to comply with these policies. 

3.5. Responsible adult leadership must always be provided by the group using the building whenever used by minors. (A minor is anyone under 18 years of age.) 

3.6. The use of athletic equipment, manual training tools or other educational equipment or supplies, not a fixed part of the spaces being occupied, is permitted under tentative guidelines for community school operation. The use of school owned visual aid equipment (projectors, films, etc.) is not permitted unless operated by school personnel, and equipment is not to be used for commercial purposes. 

3.7. See application form for fee schedule. 

3.8. Principal Responsible for the Loan or Rental of School Facilities 

The principals, during the time he/she is under contract, and at other times the Superintendent only, shall be responsible for permitting the use of school buildings by the public or out-of-school groups and then only accordance with rules pertaining thereto. Technical equipment such as projects may be used only if a competent school person operates the same. Furniture and other equipment may be loaned for public or civic organizations use away from the building in which it is usually used, if the borrower signs for the articles loaned and pays for any damage which may occur. (School buildings and/or equipment not to be used for commercial purposes.)

 
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Distribution: Board Members, Superintendent, Associations, Assistant Superintendents, Administrators and Principals.