Policy - KF

POLICY:  KF

EFFECTIVE DATE: 8/7/24

CANCELS SHEET DATED:  10/06/21

REVIEWED BY POLICY COMMITTEE: 05/15/24

COMMUNITY USE OF SCHOOL FACILITIES

The use of school facilities (buildings and/or grounds) by non-profit groups is permitted and encouraged when such use does not interfere with the school program or the activities of school sponsored organizations.

The building principal is authorized to approve and schedule the use of school facilities by non-school groups.  The person(s) requesting the use of the building must be at least 21 years old and must be a resident of RSU #74.  Any use for commercial gain, unless otherwise approved by the RSU #74 board of directors, shall be charged a fee of $50 per day for building use, be charged for custodial coverage, and food service, if applicable.

The superintendent and board of directors may waive or reduce the fee if the commercial enterprise provides a service at a savings to the youth of RSU #74.  Scholarships and/or free or reduced fees would meet this requirement.  Documentation of this is kept on file at the RSU #74 superintendent’s office.

 If a non-school group requests the use of a building, appropriate staff coverage is required.  If staff coverage is deemed necessary and a staff person is not volunteered or arranged to be part of his/her working hours, the group using the building will be charged a usage fee.  The charge is for the time the building is used and calculated at a rate of two (2) times the current custodial base wage.

The possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs is forbidden by any person, group or groups using school facilities, except for training or educational purposes when prior written approval has been obtained from the building principal.

There is a smoking ban in all school buildings and on all school grounds.  A violation of this policy means the loss of further use of the building(s) within the school district and a charge to cover extra cleaning or damage.

No one is allowed on school property after dark unless there is a school approved activity taking place.  Offenders shall be reported to the Somerset County Sheriff’s Department or Maine State Police.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, the person, group or groups using school facilities shall indemnify and hold harmless RSU #74, its officers, and employees from and against all claims, damages, losses, and expenses, just or unjust, including but not limited to costs of defense, including attorney’s fees, arising out of or resulting from the performance of any Facilities Usage Agreement, provided that any such claim, damage, loss or expense (1) is attributable to bodily injury, sickness, disease or death, or to injury to or destruction of tangible property, including the loss or use thereof, and (2) is caused in whole or in part by any negligent act or omission of the person, group or groups using school facilities, anyone directly or indirectly employed by it, or anyone for whose act it may be liable, except to the extent that it is caused by RSU #74, its officers or employees.