| The School Board of Polk County |
| Bylaws & Policies |
| Unless a specific policy has been amended and the date the policy was revised is noted at the bottom of that policy, the bylaws and policies of The School Board of Polk County were adopted on November 12, 2013 and were in effect beginning November 12, 2013. |
7510 - USE OF DISTRICT FACILITIES
In accordance with F.S. 1013.01, educational facilities are built or established primarily for educational purposes and secondarily for the use of the community as authorized by the legislature and the School Board. Full use of these facilities for educational, civic, cultural, recreational, artistic, charitable, and not-for-profit programs is encouraged by the Board. Pursuant to F.S. 163.31777, the Board will develop a process for determining where and how joint use of either Board property can be shared with local governments for mutual benefit and efficiency.
The Board will permit the use of District grounds and 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. All requirements for the requested use must be met in advance of final approval.
Use by School-Oriented Organizations and Groups
There may be no charge for use of school facilities and equipment to approved groups and organizations related to and connected with the school, students, and/or activities and events directly related to the operation or support of Board operations. The allowed usage, group types, priority levels, and rates are established in the Facilities Use Procedures Manual. A qualified employee must supervise the operation of major equipment in the cafeteria, shops, etc. The use and operation of school kitchen facilities and equipment must be supervised by authorized School Nutrition Personnel.
Use by Nonschool-Oriented Organizations and Groups
There may be a charge for the use of school facilities and equipment to groups and organizations not directly school related and/or oriented. Usage charges shall be established by the Superintendent and shall be based upon the facilities being used. The method and timing of the payment will be established in the contract between the organization or group and the Board. The principal or facilities manager will make the determination as to which staff person, if any, is required to be on site at the time of the event. A qualified employee must supervise the operation of major equipment in the cafeteria, shops, etc. The use and operation of school kitchen facilities and equipment must be supervised by authorized School Nutrition Personnel. Charges will be assessed in accordance with the rate established in the Facilities Use Procedures Manual.
Long-Term Use
Long-term use agreements for school facilities shall be executed by written contract. When a standardized agreement has been adopted by the Board for use of specific types of facilities, such agreement shall be executed. When uses have not been made the subject of standardized agreements, the Superintendent shall negotiate, in conjunction with the Board attorney, a specific agreement for approval by the Board.
Use of Equipment
| A. | Rental | |
| Equipment, other than the normal furnishings of a particular facility, is not available for rental except by special permission of the Superintendent. No property or equipment shall be used for any of the following purposes: |
| 1. | commercial or personal gain | ||
| 2. | programs involving any form of gambling or any illegal activity | ||
| 3. | activities in violation of any Board regulation | ||
| 4. | by any organization or party which believes in or teaches directly or indirectly, the overthrow of the governments of the United States, the State of Florida, and/or Polk County |
| B. | Admission Fee | |
| Not withstanding the provisions in (A) above, nonschool-oriented organizations and groups may, upon approval of the Superintendent, use District facilities and charge an admission fee provided an approved facility usage agreement is executed for each use and all applicable facility use charges have been paid. | ||
| C. | Intent | |
| The intent of this policy may not be circumvented by any agency or organization described herein through use of the Board/County Commissioner Recreation Agreement, or similar agreements. | ||
| D. | Denial of Use | |
| The Superintendent may deny use of facilities or equipment to any agency or organization whose purpose in using District facilities and/or equipment is considered by the Superintendent to be incompatible with this rule. |
Temporary Facilities
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, for the housing, feeding, and care of victims or potential victims when requested by local, County, State, or Federal governmental authorities.
The Superintendent shall develop administrative procedures for the granting of permission to use District facilities including a schedule of fees. Such procedures are to include the following:
| A. | Each user shall present evidence of the purchase of organizational/general liability insurance to the limit prescribed by the District's administrative procedures. | |
| 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 are 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, or any of its employees and officers, specifically as a consequence of permitting access to these facilities.
F.S. 1013.01, 1013.10
© Neola 2004