| DeWitt Public Schools |
| Bylaws & Policies |
7510 - USE OF SCHOOL FACILITIES
The Board of Education believes that the school facilities of this District should be made available for community purposes, provided that such use does not infringe on the original and necessary purpose of the property or interfere with the educational program of the schools and is harmonious with the purposes of this District.
The Board will permit the use of school facilities when such permission has been requested in writing by a responsible organization or a group of citizens and has been approved by the Community Relations Director and the building administration.
District facilities shall be available for the below-listed uses. When there are competing interests for the use of facilities, approval will be given according to the following priorities:
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Classification 1: |
K-12 program activities are those that directly relate to regular, extra-curricular, or athletic K-12 events. These include music performances, drama productions, athletic events, school clubs, intramural, parent orientation meetings, awards banquets, school-sponsored dances, etc. K-12 program activities must have dates approved a minimum of thirty (30) days prior to date of use to guarantee availability of the requested facility. Scheduling of high use areas such as school gymnasiums, and performing arts center by K-12 programs should be done during the District’s annual scheduling process whenever possible. |
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Classification 2: |
Community education programs solely or jointly administrated by the Board will be granted second priority for available District space and facilities. In addition, this classification includes, but is not limited to, school related support systems (MHSAA, MASB, CCRESA, etc.), booster organizations, and parent-teacher organizations, and District employee associations. |
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Classification 3: |
District student groups/groups organized to benefit students/government organizations, and resident non-profit community organizations come under two (2) definitions. Student groups and groups organized to benefit students are defined as groups that are interested in using District facilities for an activity with recreational, civic, educational, cultural, or charitable goals and are staffed by students or adult volunteers and whose activities are organized for the primary benefit of the students. Typically, the only adults in attendance would be those required to provide appropriate supervision and oversight as necessary in the judgement of the Superintendent. If acceptable to the community education authorized staff, student groups may self-lead. |
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Government organizations are defined as units of local, city, and township government and their established committees. Such groups will be issued permits for space and facilities a third priority basis. Examples of Classification 3 users include, but are not limited to, local scout organizations, community sports groups, and local, city, and township units of government and DeWitt Area Recreation Authority (DARA). |
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Resident non-profit community groups are defined as those District residents who are requesting use for their non-profit activity or organization. Non-profit groups must provide legal documentation (as defined by IRS code of regulations) or groups of individuals formed for charitable, civic, social, religious, recreational, or educational purposes. |
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Classification 4: |
Private resident use/community/recreational groups are defined as informally organized groups of community residents who are interested in using District facilities for a particular use, who are requesting solitary, occasional or regularly scheduled use for an activity with recreational, educational, cultural, or charitable goals. This group includes, but is not limited to, recreational groups which limits membership and is not open to the public, neighborhood associations, and other groups whose activity has limited participation. Participants in these groups will typically be adults, not K-12 school age. Classification 4 users who provide a community service and do not charge a membership fee or an admission fee, such as the Community Band or Friends of the Looking Glass, may have the facility use fees waived at the discretion of the community education authorized staff. These groups will be assigned fourth priority of available spaces. |
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Classification 5: |
Commercial users, defined as private, for profit businesses, vendors, or entrepreneurs, shall not routinely be serviced in District facilities. Commercial users include government or educational institutions providing tuition or fee based instruction. Non-resident groups are groups of users composed of a majority of people living outside the District. Approval of all applications in Classification 5 will be based upon the following criteria: benefits to the District and community; educational contribution; potential wear and tear on District facilities; appropriateness of the activity; and relationship of the activity to the stated mission of the District. |
The use of District grounds,
facilities, and equipment shall not be granted for:| A. | private social functions or personal use | |
| B. | any purpose which is prohibited by law |
Should all or any part of the District's community be struck by a disaster, the Board shall make District grounds and/or facilities available, at no charge, for the housing, feeding, and care of victims or potential victims when requested by local, State, or Federal authorities. The Superintendent should meet with the local authorities to establish a disaster preparedness plan in order to ensure that proper procedures are established to minimize confusion, inefficiency, and disruption of the educational program.
The Superintendent shall develop administrative guidelines for the granting of permission to use District facilities including a schedule of fees. Such guidelines are to include the following:
| A. | Each user may be required to present evidence of the purchase of organizational liability insurance to the limit prescribed by District administrative guidelines. | |
| B. | Use of school equipment in conjunction with the use of school facilities must be requested specifically in writing, and may be granted by the procedure by which permission to use facilities is granted. The users of school equipment must accept liability for any damage or loss to such equipment that occurs while it is in their use. When equipment is removed from the District, written approval must be obtained from the Superintendent and the responsible party must show proof of liability insurance. Where rules so specify, no item of equipment may be used except by a qualified operator. | |
| C. | Users shall be liable financially for damage to the facilities and for proper chaperonage. |
No liability shall attach to this District, any employee, officer, or member of this District specifically as a consequence of permitting access to these facilities.
Revised 1/10/00
Revised 3/14/05
Revised 11/10/08