School District of the City of Holland
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 Superintendent or his/her designee.

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:

Category I

School District Uses:

 A.uses directly related to the schools, the school program, and the operation of the schools, including meetings of employee groups

 B.uses and groups indirectly related to the schools

 C.departments or agencies of the municipal government

Category II

City of Holland Recreation Programs (Category I priority status).

Category III

Formal nonprofit community groups and organizations, primarily comprised of District residents, providing educational, social, cultural, religious, or recreational activities for members of the Holland community at-large.

Category IV

Activities evolving out of Category III where admission is charged.

Category V

Organizations/groups from outside the District, commercial users, private for-profit businesses or vendors.

The use of District grounds and facilities shall not be granted for 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 disaster preparedness team 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. 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.

M.C.L.A. 380.1268

Revised 11/20/95