Use of School Facilities
The board believes that public schools are owned and operated by and for the community. The public is encouraged to use school 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. On recommendation of the superintendent, the board will set the rental rates schedule.
The superintendent is authorized to establish procedures for use of school facilities, including rental rates, supervisory requirements, restrictions, and security. Those using school facilities will maintain 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.
Community athletics programs that use district facilities will not discriminate against any person on the basis of sex in the operation, conduct or administration of their programs. The district will provide copies of the district’s nondiscrimination policy to all third parties using district facilities.
For rental rate purposes, organizations seeking the use of school facilities have been divided into three categories:
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, PTA, 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.
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, but for no more than two years and may not average more than twelve hours of use per week.
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.
District-sponsored activities, including curricular and co-curricular functions, retain first priority in use of facilities. Authorization for use of school facilities will not be considered as endorsement or approval of the activity, group or organization.
Cross References:
Board Policy 3422 Student Sports – Concussion and Head Injuries
Legal References:
RCW 4.24.660 Liability of school districts under contracts with youth programs
RCW 28A.230.180 Educational and career opportunities in the military, student access to information on, when
RCW 28A.320.510 Night schools, summer schools, meetings, use of facilities for
RCW 28A.335.150 Permitting use and rental of playgrounds, athletic fields, or athletic facilities
RCW 28A.335.155 Use of buildings for youth programs — Limited immunity
20 USC Sec. 7905 Boys Scout of America Equal Access Act
34 CFR Sec. 108.6 Equal Access to Public School Facilities For The Boy Scouts of America and Other Designated Youth Groups
AGO 1973 No. 26 School districts — Use of school facilities for presentation of programs — Legislature — Elections
Management Resources:
Policy and Legal News, July, 2013 Equal access to K-12 campuses law goes into effect
Policy and Legal News, June 2013 Use of School Facilities policy clarification
Policy News, December 2011 Changes in WSSDA’s Policy Reference Manual
Policy News, August 2009 Concussion and Head Injuries Legislation
Adoption Date: 04/18/01
Revised: 03/26/14