Valley View explains plan
Valley View School District has outlined its new policy regarding the use of district facilities by outside organizations.
"We wanted to be fair," said school board President Steve Quigley who, along with board member Mike Evans, sought further review of a proposed policy introduced by the school administration in July.
The facility usage agreement adopted recently includes several revisions from the original proposal.
Those who use Valley View facilities would be divided into five classes, with two subgroups in one of the classes:
• Class 1 -- School-affiliated organizations, school-sponsored programs or organizations that serve Valley View students but meet weekdays after school or at night. This group will not be required to pay anything for usage other than for kitchen staff which will be billed at $35 an hour. Weekday Boy and Girl Scouts, Camp Fire, parent councils, booster clubs and Park District and Recreation Department activities covered by agreements with the district fall in this group.
• Class 2 -- School-affiliated organizations, school-sponsored programs or organizations that serve Valley View students but meet Saturday, Sunday or on days school is not in session. This group will be exempt from paying fees but would be subject to charges for staff and other out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the district. Staff costs range from $33 to $75 an hour. Weekend Boy and Girl Scouts, Camp Fire, parent councils, booster clubs and Park District and Recreation Department activities covered by agreements with the district fall in this group.
• Class 3 -- Community-based organizations whose academic or recreational activities serve district school-age students but they do not charge an admission or registration fee or ask for a donation. This group will not pay an hourly rental fee, but will be subject to charges for staff and other out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the district. Staff costs range from $33 to $75 an hour.
• Class 4A -- Community-based nonprofit organizations whose academic or recreational activities serve district school-age students who charge an admission or registration fee or ask for a donation, and the frequency of the activity is less than once a month, and the event has an attendance of 400 or less and the rental time is four hours or less. This group will not pay an hourly rental fee but will pay all staff costs and other out-of-pocket costs incurred by the district. Staff costs range from $33 to $75 an hour.
• Class 4B -- Community-based for-profit organizations whose academic or recreational activities serve district school-age students who charge an admission or registration fee or ask for a donation, or whose frequency of use is once a month or greater, or the duration of the activity is greater than four hours, or the attendance at the activity is greater than 400. This group will pay an hourly rental fee plus all staff costs and other out-of-pocket costs incurred by the district. The rental fee ranges from $15 for a classroom and $25 for baseball and softball fields to $75 for the main gym or field house at either high school. Staff costs range from $33 to $75 an hour.
• Class 5 -- Non-community-based organizations regardless of whether or not they charge a fee for registration or admission or ask for a donation. This group will pay an hourly rental fee plus all staff costs and other out-of-pocket costs incurred by the district. The rental fee ranges from $35 for a classroom or baseball and softball fields to $120 for the main gym or field house at either high school. Staff costs range from $33 to $75 an hour.
The new policy will go into effect with rentals that begin April 1.
