Code Number: 1004.1
Definitions
Coordinator – The Coordinator for the District’s Elementary and Middle Schools will be their Building Administrator or his/her designee. The Coordinator for the High Schools will be their Activities Director.
Facility Use Permit – Written agreement between the District and the Use Permit Holder that specifies a Use Permit Holder’s conditions and schedule of use of District facilities.
Use Permit Holder – Individual or organization with a designated responsible individual named on the Facility Use Permit who, together with the named group, are responsible for all activities authorized by that permit and for all costs related to or resulting from activities that take place under their Permit.
Community Use of School Facilities
The overriding purpose of the school facilities is to support the implementation of the instructional programs of the District. The accomplishment of the educational mission of the District shall be considered to have first priority in all decisions concerning any use of any facility under this policy. The Board believes that school facilities are community resources intended to be used to the maximum, including making them available for non-school functions. The Board encourages the use of school facilities by public and private organizations/individuals that share in the health, welfare, and educational interests of the community
The Board reserves the right to deny the use of District facilities, property, and equipment to an entity.
The Board recognizes that there are costs involved in the use of facilities not directly related to school activities that should be reclaimed. The Superintendent or his/her designee shall develop a fee schedule together with regulations regarding the orderly scheduling of facilities usage by the Coordinators. The proposed fee schedule shall be reviewed by the Board Finance & Facilities Committee before being adopted as a part of District administrative regulations.
School buildings and facilities may be used to assist civil authorities in the case of civil disasters or emergencies and the Superintendent is given the right to work with such authorities to make school buildings and facilities available as particular needs or emergencies arise. The Superintendent or his/her designee may enter into formal agreements to prescribe and assign the use of facilities in the event of emergencies.
Certain events, as specified by Iowa statutes, will be provided without cost (such as political caucuses or elections). Other political events (such as rallies or campaigns) may be approved when a Facility Use Permit is issued. In the case of the District’s Preschool Initiative, separate agreements may be created.
No use permit shall be issued for a period of longer than one year at a time.
Entities that use District facilities or equipment will be supervised by a District employee unless prior arrangements have been made with the Superintendent or his/her designee. District employees will not accept a fee from the entity using the facilities.
Entities that use District buildings, facilities, or equipment must leave the District property in the same condition that was prior to such use. Inappropriate use may result in additional fees and/or the denial of future use of District property.
Guidelines to Priority of Use Categories
- Approved activities, which include instructional, co-curricular, and extra-curricular activities serving only students enrolled in the District; and professional development for District staff, shall have the highest priority. Such activities included in this category extend to PTA’s, PTO’s, the Sioux City Public Schools Foundation, and recognized parent and activity booster groups.
- Programs in the District’s Preschool Initiative (or programs under separate agreements with the District).
- Programs or events directly serving only students enrolled in the District, with an approved instructional, co-curricular, or extra-curricular focus with no expectation of profit through the program or event shall have the next priority. Non-enrolled students who live in the District may be considered for participation in this category when required/allowed through state or federal grant funds.
- Other programs or events serving a community purpose with or without expectation of profit, shall have the next priority.
NOTE: All categories (except Category B) need to request and be issued a Facility Use Permit whether or not a usage fee applies.
Approved Category A and Category C programs or events shall not be expected to pay a basic usage fee, although Category C may be charged the prevailing rate for Coordinator-approved services, such as requested HVAC, custodial or supervisory time, and/or labor costs. Fees for Category B agreements will be negotiated by the Superintendent or his/her designee. Category D will not be exempt from user fees, nor from being charged the prevailing rates for requested HVAC, custodial or supervisory time, and/or labor costs.
A Coordinator may approve a request, which must include a Facility Use Permit, for up to ten days (consecutive or non-consecutive days in one year) for Category A, C, and D activities, programs, or events. If a request for usage by groups in those categories extends beyond those parameters, the issuance of a Facility Use Permit must be approved by the Superintendent or his/her designee.
Employees of the District are subject to all provisions of this policy including but not limited to the scheduling of space and equipment and the payment of applicable fees and charges unless for a school-sponsored activity. Employees must have a Facility Use Permit issued within one of the above Categories to use District facilities for any activities unrelated to their professional assignments and not directed by their supervisor.
Priority of use shall not be interpreted to mean that any classification has an exclusive right to a single school, playing field, or multiple District facilities. The Coordinator weighs and balances all needs and schedules in deciding which requests can be approved, keeping in mind the Board’s purposes for the use of school facilities.
The District Superintendent or his/her designee and Administrators are directed to manage the facilities in a way that provides reasonable access to any community user in accordance with this policy and the attached regulations.
This policy should not be interpreted to replace or supersede the District’s Equal Access Policy.
See, AR 1004.1 for additional procedures and requirements.
NON-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT
The Sioux City Community School District offers career and technical programs in the following areas: Business & Marketing, Family & Consumer Science, Health Science, and Industrial Arts, Technology, & PLTW.
The Sioux City Community School District is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. It is an unfair or discriminatory practice for any educational institution to discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information (for employment), national origin, religion, age (for employment), disability, socioeconomic status (for programs), marital status (for programs), or veteran status (for employment) in its educational programs and its employment practices.
Inquiries or grievances, including Section 504 grievances and grievances under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, may be directed to Jen Gomez, Director of Student Services & Equity Education at 627 4th Street, Sioux City, IA 51101, (712) 279-6075, gomezj2@live.siouxcityschools.com. Please see District Board policies 103 and 504.4 for additional information on available grievance procedures.
- First Adoption:
- 2010-11-22
- Revision Adoption:
- March 9, 2015/ November 14, 2016/ August 26, 2019
- Reviewed Dates:
- July 29, 2019
- Legal Reference:
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I.C.A. Const. Art. 3 § 31
Iowa Code §§ 123.46; 276; 278.1(1.d.); 279.8; 297.9-.11
1982 Op. Att'y Gen. 82-12-7
1972 Op. Att’y Gen. 72-1-14
Leonard v. Iowa Board of Ed., 471 N.W. 2d 814 (1991)