Policy No.	4260
	Adoption Date:	July 11, 1984
	Reviewed:	March 5, 2001

COMMUNITY RELATIONS USE OF SCHOOL FACILITIES

The board subscribes to the belief that public schools are owned and operated by and for its patrons. The public is encouraged to use school facilities but shall be expected to reimburse the district for such use to insure that funds intended for education are not used for other purposes. On recommendation of the superintendent, the board shall 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 shall maintain insurance for accident and liability covering persons using the district's facilities under the sponsorship of the organization. If providing insurance coverage creates an undue hardship, a group may request the superintendent to consider a waiver of the insurance requirement. 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 include those organizations whose main purpose is to promote the welfare of boys and girls 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. When facilities are used outside of regular school hours, or the district incurs extra utility, cleaning or supervision costs, a fee, to be established by the superintendent, shall be charged to recoup those costs.

Nonprofit Groups includes those organizations which might wish to 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 shall charge a rental rate in excess of costs incurred, except that such excess charges may be waived when a service club or other nonprofit group is raising funds for charitable purposes. To be granted this exception, the charitable organization must be recognized by the Philanthropic Division of the Better Business Bureau and/or Secretary of State. 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 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 nonregular 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 shall not be considered as endorsement of or approval of the activity group or organization nor for the purposes it represents.

Legal References:

AGO	1973 No. 26	Initiative No. 276--School districts--Use of school facilities for presentation of programs--Legislature--Elections
RCW	28A.320.510	Night schools, summer schools, meetings, use of facilities for
	28A.335.150	Permitting use and rental of play-grounds, athletic fields, or athletic facilities
	28A.335.155	Use of buildings for youth programs--Liability immunity