Policy 4260 - Use of School Facilities

The public schools are owned by and operated for their community. District residents and members of the general public are encouraged to use school facilities but will reimburse the District for such use to ensure that funds intended for education are not used for other purposes. 

The superintendent or designee shall establish procedures for the use of school facilities, including priority and preference for use, rental rates, supervisory requirements, restrictions, security, and other matters pertinent to community use. The possession, consumption, or use of alcoholic beverages, any tobacco products including electronic delivery devices, and/or illegal drugs is strictly prohibited on all school district property. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure the communication and enforcement of these provisions. All applicants for use of school facilities will maintain accident and liability insurance for persons using district facilities under the applicant’s sponsorship in an amount not less than $50,000 due to bodily injury or death of one person or at least $100,000 due to bodily injury or death of two or more persons in any incident. The superintendent or their designee possesses the authority to make the decision on the use of school facilities by a group. The group may appeal such decision to the board. 

The district does not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably-discharged veteran or military status, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, homelessness, immigration or citizenship status, marital status, the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, neurodivergence, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability and provides equal access to Scouts and other designated youth groups. 

Community athletics programs that use district facilities will not discriminate against any person on the basis of sex in the operation, conduct or administration of their programs. The district will provide copies of the district’s nondiscrimination policy to all third parties using district facilities. Any third party using who violates this policy and procedure may lose the ability to use district facilities in the future. 

For rental rate purposes, organizations seeking the use of school facilities have been divided into three categories: 

School or Child-Related Groups or Other Government Agencies 

School or Child-related Groups or Other Government agencies include those organizations whose main purpose is to promote the welfare of students, or to provide members of the community access to government programs or opportunities for civic participation. Examples include Scouts, Campfire, PTA/PTO, 4-H, city or county sponsored recreation groups, polling places, political caucuses and governmental groups. The district will provide official recruiting representatives of the state and the United States military forces, Job Corps, Peace Corps, and AmeriCorps with access to school facilities (including number of days and type of presentation space) equal to and no less than the access provided to other post-secondary occupational or educational representatives. 

When facilities are used outside of regular school hours, or when the district incurs extra utility, cleaning or supervision costs, a fee, established by the superintendent, will be charged to recoup those costs. Additionally, youth organizations engaged in sports activities and using school facilities must provide a statement of compliance with the policies for the management of concussion and head injury in youth sports as required by RCW 28A.600. 

Nonprofit Groups 

Nonprofit groups and organizations may use school facilities for lectures, promotional activities, rallies, entertainment, college courses, or other activities for which public halls or commercial facilities generally are rented or owned. The district may charge a rental rate in excess of costs incurred. Excess charges may be waived when a service club or other nonprofit group is raising funds for charitable purposes. 

Professional fund raisers representing charities must provide evidence that they are registered and bonded by the state of Washington. Such fund-raisers must provide evidence that the charity will receive at least sixty (60) percent of the gross revenues received from the public prior to approval to use the facilities. 

Similar treatment may be granted by public universities and colleges when offering college courses within the community or when any university/college is offering a course for staff at the request of the district. Nonprofit groups of the kind that in most communities have their own facilities (churches, lodges, veteran’s groups, granges, etc.) who wish to use district facilities on a regular, but temporary basis, may do so under this rental rate. 

Commercial Enterprises 

Commercial Enterprises include profit-making organizations and business-related enterprises. While the district would prefer these organizations use commercial or private facilities, facilities may be rented for non-regular use at the prevailing rate charged by commercial facilities in the area. 

District-sponsored activities, including curricular and co-curricular functions, retain first priority in use of facilities. Authorization for use of school facilities will not be considered as endorsement or approval of the activity, group or organization. 

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