Use
of School Facilities
Purpose
The Board of School Directors believes that District facilities should be made
available for responsible use by the community, providing that such use
does not interfere with the school programs and activities and can be supported
by available district resources.
Authority
The Board will provide for the use of District facilities when permission has
been requested on the designated form and has been approved by the Superintendent
or his designee in accordance with the administrative guidelines.
In considering
requests for the use of District facilities, priorities shall
be as follows:
a. Activities
and programs directly related to the instructional and educational
programs of the District.
b. Events
or activities designed to serve the youth and/or citizens of
the individual school community which are planned and directed
by District-recognized and school-attached groups.
c. Events
or activities sponsored by recreational boards of municipalities
within the boundaries of the District.
d. Use
by community organizations whose primary purpose is service
to youth or, through the use of District facilities, the improvement
of the general welfare of the community, and where no admission,
entry of participation fee is charged.
e. Use
by civic and service groups whose purpose, through the use
of District facilities, is to improve the general welfare of
the community, and whose admission, entry or participation
fee is charged only to yield net receipts to be expended for
the welfare of the pupils or for charitable purposes.
In determining
how school facilities are to be assigned when the number of
requests exceeds the number of facilities available, the following
criteria will be reviewed:
a. Percentage
of District residents involved in the program.
b. Number of participants served.
c. Suitability of the facility for the activity.
d. Number of years program has operated at the requested facility.
f. History of past compliance with District guidelines.
g. Date of application.
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Delegation
of Responsibility
All community use shall be subject to the provisions of the following Rules,
Regulations, and General Policies:
1. The
use and rental of District facilities shall be generally restricted
to organizations located within the Pennridge School District
or having a majority of members who are Pennridge residents,
and to organizations within the Pennridge School District who
are acting as hosts to area or regional meetings or programs.
Rental to groups located outside the District who are not being
sponsored by a local group may also be approved by district
administration, when in the judgment of the administration
the renting group is offing a program of interest and benefits
to the community and whose major purpose is to serve the youth
of the community or is for charitable purposes.
2. All
applications for use of the facilities of the Pennridge School
District shall be made to the Business Office on a form prepared
for this purpose. The application shall be made at least ten
working days prior to the date of use to allow time for necessary
arrangements.
3. All
applications shall be signed by a responsible member of the
organization making the application. Signature by the member
shall be considered evidence that the group assumes full responsibility
for obeying all regulations regarding facility use, It should
also be understood that the individual signing the application
will be responsible for any costs associated with the use of
the District's facilities.
4. All
applications are subject to approval of school officials with
regard to general conditions, special facilities, services
desired or community standards.
5. The
availability of school facilities for use is dependent upon
the needs of the school as determined by the school principal,
and is subject to the priorities established above.
6. The
Board will annually approve a schedule of facility use charges.
All rental charges for the use of school facilities shall be
prepaid within ten business days preceding the event. Checks
are payable to the Pennridge School District, c/o The Business
Office, 1506 North Fifth Street, Perkasie, PA 18944.
7. When
an admission is charged, the organization using the facilities
is responsible for the payment of any admission tax required
directly to the Bucks County Collector of Internal Revenue.
Evidence of payment, together with an itemized attendance report,
must be furnished to the school district upon request.
8. Organizations
using a school facility may not subject or transfer their rights
and privileges to any other group, individual or organization.
9. Organizations
or individuals using school facilities shall be responsible
for any theft of school property or damage to school property
which occurs during facility use and shall reimburse the school
district for any such theft or damage within ten days of the
receipt of a bill from the district.
10. Organizations
using school facilities shall provide police protection at
their own expense if deemed necessary by school officials to
maintain order, to protect school property, and to provide
for traffic supervision and direction. The school employee
in charge during the facility use may call the police if in
the employee's judgement it becomes necessary.
11. For-profit
groups being used by non-profit groups for fundraising purposes
may not sell more tickets than the facility can accommodate
or resell tickets which are returned with a contribution.
12. The
organization using school facilities shall have control of
those who may be admitted to the activity, except that school
officials and designated employees shall not be refused admission
at any time.
13. All
apparatus, equipment and devices owned by the school shall
be operated by school employees or specifically trained student
personnel, unless special arrangements are made otherwise.
No equipment or electrical outlets or diverse other utilities
not contracted to be used by the group can be used. Prior approval
for all use must be granted in writing by appropriate district
personnel.
14. Any
and all decorations to be used must be fireproof or fire-retardant
and subject to the approval of school officials. No open flame
decoration shall be used anywhere in the building. Decorations
in the auditorium and foyer shall be limited to floral decorations,
and no decorations shall be fastened to walls or ceilings.
15. There
shall be no installation of equipment or alterations to the
existing facilities by the user without the prior written approval
of school officials.
16. Any
and all decorations, furnishing, and equipment shall be installed
and removed by the user, under direction and supervision of
the school staff. All such decorations, furnishings, and equipment
and debris shall be removed immediately by the user.
17. The
use of any and tobacco products school property is not permitted.
18. Alcoholic
beverages and illegal substances may not be possessed, transported,
served, sold or consumed on District property.
19. Proper
adult supervision of youth activities must be provided at all
times. Groups which do not provide proper adult supervision
may have their use terminated by the district.
20. The
lessee must agree to assume all responsibility for damage claims
or liability of any kind arising out or by reasons of its use
of Pennridge School District facilities and further must agree
to save and hold the District harmless from any claims, liability
expense or cost in connection with that use of the District's
facilities.
21. All
groups who use a Pennridge school building must provide personal
and property liability insurance coverage with minimum coverage
of $500,000. Higher coverage may be required for selected activities.
No persons involved in the activity, whether spectators or
players, may be excluded from coverage. Pennridge School District
must be named as an additional insured for all events which
take place in district facilities. A certificate of insurance
must be presented to the district prior to use and must indicate
that the district has been added as an additional insured.
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Fee
Guidelines
There are generally three categories of groups seeking use of school district
facilities. These groups are as follows:
1. School-sponsored,
community, and school-parent organizations (i.e., parent-teacher
groups, booster clubs, Pennridge Music Association, Deep Run,
Yellowjackets, etc.). These would include parochial schools
within the district. Groups included in this category can use
the facilities at no charge, except when custodial overtime
is involved or when the group sponsors an activity for which
it charges admission or registration fees.
2. Adult
and youth civic, government-related, and other non-profit groups
in the Pennridge School District. All groups in category two
can utilize District facilities by paying the cost for any
necessary school personnel at their current rate of overtime
pay, plus twenty per cent (20%) of the per session fees enumerated
below.
Included in this section are community groups that charge an admission free
or registration fees for groups outside the District to participate in activities
sponsored by the local group (e.g., Deep Run and Yellowjacket soccer tournaments
for which the 20% rate will be lowered to 10% due to the inordinate amount
of custodial overtime involved).
3. Private
individuals, corporations, and groups whose use of the facilities
results in financial profit or assists private interests. Individuals
or groups in this category will be charged the rates listed
on the below schedule, as well as the cost for any necessary
school personnel at their current rate of overtime pay.
All of
the rates listed are on a per session basis.
SENIOR
HIGH SCHOOL
Auditorium - $900.00
Auditorium Rehearsal - $50.00
Gymnasium - $900.00
Cafeteria - $350.00
Cafeteria/Kitchen * - $450.00
MIDDLE
HIGH SCHOOLS
Auditorium - $300.00
Auditorium Rehearsal - $50.00
Gymnasium - $600.00
Cafeteria - $350.00
Cafeteria/Kitchen * - $450.00
ELEMENTARY
SCHOOLS
Multipurpose Rooms - $350.00
MPR/Kitchen * - $450.00
Gymnasium - $100.00
Classroom
in any district building - $75.00
Computer lab in any building - $150.00
*Kitchen
privileges in any building will be granted only if a district
food service employee is on duty and the use of the facility
has been approved by the Director of Food Services.
Any exception
to this fee schedule will be recommended by the Superintendent
to the Board of School Directors.
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Additional Stipulations
1. Profane, obscene, immoral or unbecoming conduct shall not be permitted on
District property.
2. Reasonable,
non-negligent care is to be taken of all District property
and equipment.
3. The
use of District facilities by independent vendors is generally
not favored and must have the written approval of the District
in order to do business on District property.
4. The
use of a concession stand in conjunction with a rental must
be sought at the time of the original request and approved
with the rental agreement.
5. Motor
vehicles shall be driven and parked only on areas designated
by the District for such purposes.
6. All
security personnel employed by the lessee must be pre-approved
by the District.
7. A building
service employee must be on duty at all times when a District
facility is in use. If such coverage requires the hiring of
additional personnel or the extension of the employee's work
hours, such cost shall be borne by the lessee at one and one-half
times the employee's current hourly rate.
8. All
trash and debris generated by the activity is to be placed
in the appropriate containers or removed from he premises by
the lessee immediately upon completion of the activity.
9. Group
using District facilities must acquire all appropriate licenses
prior to administrative approval being granted. These permits
will be kept on file in the Business Office until such time
as the lessee's use of the facility has been terminated. Termination
shall occur after the last date of usage of the lessee.
10. Any
exception of the fee guidelines for facility use will be recommended
by the Superintendent of Schools to the Board of School Directors.
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