Title: Use of School Facilities, Materials and Equipment
Code: 3280
Status: Active
Adopted: August 15, 2012
Last Revised: August 24, 2016
The South Country Central School District agrees to make available to the community certain facilities and fields for the promotion of education and physical fitness. The use of these facilities are subject to the rules set forth in this policy.
Groups should keep in mind that the school reserves the right to take control of the space on short notice in the event it is needed for a school function.
All groups must maintain a Certificate of Insurance naming the South Country School District as the additional insured for the duration of your event or program.
All groups must indicate their organization type (e.g. community or non-community group) and their respective tax-exempt status on the district’sbuilding use application form.
Groups who are nota municipal organization or certified Not-For-Profit agency, must provide the School District with a copy of federal or state recognition of 501 C (3) status. Use of the building will need to be contractual showing a benefit to the District of such use. The District requires 90 days prior notice in these cases.
No agency shall be permitted to store equipment at any of our facilities. Whatever is needed must be brought in and carried out upon completion of event or permit expiration. In cases where building use is ongoing by an organization and the head custodian and Building Principal deem it permissible, space can be allocated, but only while permit and insurance remain in effect.
Events or meetings that have over 25 people require a custodian to be in the building. Events with attendance greater than 50 people require both a custodian and security guard to be assigned. Events with groups greater than 75 people require two security guards,as coordinated by the District. In the event a custodian is required, the group must reimburse the District at an agreed upon rate. In the event a security guard is required, the group must reimburse the District at an agreed upon rate, as well.This fee must be paid in advance, failure to pay these fees will result in a canceling of the group's "Use of School Facilities" privileges.
All groups using the gyms shall use approved indoor equipment and proper footwear for whatever sport they are taking part in. Such equipment be indicated on the district’s Building Use Form and receive prior approval by the District's Athletic Director.
No group shall occupy a field if students are using any part of the field, without the prior consent of the District Athletic Director.
All groups using auditoriums may not alter or move equipment without the approval of the building's head custodian/district administration.Additionally, only the use of UL approved electronic devices will be permitted.If District audiovisual or lights are needed, there will be a charge.
Under No circumstances should food be sold or eaten inside of facilities unless authorized in advance, and then only in a cafeteria.
In the event that anything is broken or missing while the area is being used by a group, the custodian or security guard on duty must be contacted prior to departure from the facility.
The organization must provide adequate prior notice to the district prior to the intended use of the facility, and the district reserves the right to establish limits as to the amount of time and instances an organization may use a district facility.
Facility Use Priority Designation
The fees associated with the use of District facilities will be determined by the legal status of the group applying for the facility. Priority will be determined by the level assigned to the organization requesting use, with Level I being the highest and Level III being the lowest, determined at the district’s discretion. These fees are in addition to the custodial and security costs. Such fees will be assessed for indoor facility use and do not apply to fields for Level I and Level II users. Such fees may be waived by the Superintendent of Schools for Level I and II users if it is determined that the group's use is beneficial to the District.
Level I Users
School or community based organizations that provide direct services to the students, such as the PTA, scouting, Girl Scouts, athletic programs or organizations involved in partnership programs with the School District. Fees shall be assessed when school is not in session.
Level II Users
Municipal government or local not-for-profit community based organizations such as libraries, fire departments, ambulance companies, hospitals, or service clubs. Fees shall be assessed when school is not in session.
Level III Users
For-Profit organizations.
Materials and Equipment
Except when used in connection with or when rented under provisions of Education Law Section 414, school-owned materials or equipment may be used by members of the community or by District employees and/or students for school related purposes only. Private and/or personal use of school-owned materials and equipment is strictly prohibited.
The Board will permit school materials and equipment to be loaned to staff members when such use is directly or peripherally related to their employment and loaned to students when the material and equipment is to be used in connection with their studies or extracurricular activities. Community members will be allowed to use school-owned materials and equipment only for educational purposes that relate to school operations.
Administrative regulations will be developed to assure the lender's responsibility for, and return of, all such materials and equipment.
Specific Requirements Relating to Boy Scouts and Other Title 36 Patriotic Youth Groups
The Boy Scouts Act applies to any local educational agency (LEA) that has a designated open forum or limited public forum and that receives funds made available through the U.S. Department of Education (DOE). It applies to any group officially affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America or any other youth group designated in Title 36 of the United States Code as a patriotic society.
This statute provides for the following:
No covered entity (elementary school, secondary school or LEA) shall deny equal access ora fair opportunity to meet, or discriminate against any group affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America or any other Title 36 patriotic youth group that requests to conduct a meeting within the covered entity's designated open forum or limited public forum.
A designated open forum exists when the school designates a time and place for one or more outside youth community groups to meet on school premises or in school facilities, including during the hours in which attendance at the school is compulsory, for reasons other than to provide the school's educational program.
A limited public forum exists when the school allows one or more outside youth or community groups to meet on school premises or in school facilities before or after the hours during which attendance at the school is compulsory.
No covered entity shall deny access or opportunity or discriminate for reasons including the membership or leadership criteria or oath of allegiance to God and country of the Boy Scouts of America or of the Title 36 patriotic youth group.
Access to facilities and the ability to communicate using school-related means of communication must be provided to any group officially affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America or any other Title 36 patriotic youth group on terms that are no less favorable than the most favorable terms provided to other outside youth or community groups.
The statute applies regardless of the entity's authority to make decisions about the use of its own school facilities. However, no entity is required to sponsor any group officially affiliated with Boy Scouts or any other Title 36 patriotic youth group.
The obligation to comply with the Boy Scouts Act is not obviated or alleviated by any State or local law or other requirement.
Legal
20 United States Code (USC) Section 7905
36 United States Code (USC) Subtitle II
34 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 75
34 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 76
34 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 108
Cross References
3410 - Code of Conduct on School Property
5640 - Smoking/Tobacco Use
7320 - Alcohol, Tobacco, Drugs and Other Substances (Students)
7410 - Extracurricular Activities District Code of Conduct on School Property