A. General Principles
The Wilkes County Board of Education believes that school facilities should be used to the fullest extent for educational and recreational purposes and therefore encourages community use of public school facilities. Organized community group shall be permitted and encouraged to use additional school facilities for worthwhile purposes for a minimal charge to cover the cost of utilities when such utilization does not interfere with school sponsored programs.
In order to provide for orderly use of school facilities and protect the public investment in school facilities and equipment, all arrangements shall be subject to the provisions which follow.
B. Priority for Use of School Facilities
Priority for the use of school facilities shall be as follows:
- Use for school sponsored curricular and extracurricular activities.
- Use by school related organizations including parent-teacher associations, public school employee organizations, public school alumni organizations, public school booster clubs and any other organization or association affiliated with the Wilkes County Schools.
- Use by non-profit organizations including civic and service clubs, churches and other religious organizations, political parties recognized by a state or county board of elections, non-profit youth organizations (such as scouts, little league and similar ORGANIZATIONS), NON-PROFIT RECREATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS (SUCH AS YMCA AND YWCA), AND PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS.
- Use by commercial or for-profit organizations.
The use of any school facility by any individual, including tutoring for profit, group of individuals, or organization engaged in a business for profit shall be authorized only if the Board of Education determines that the intended use involves public school students and their parents or the local community, and is not detrimental to the educational program provided by the Wilkes County Schools.
C. Application for Use of School Facilities
The principal or his designated representative is authorized to approve and schedule the use of school facilities by organized community groups for whose activity no admission charge is made. Any group using school facilities must assume full responsibility for cleaning the area utilized and for any damage that might occur to the facility. A responsible adult must contact the principal well in advance of the date of use in order to schedule the organized community group into the facility.
The Board of Education has developed an application for the use of school facilities by any individual or group for any purpose other than school sponsored curricular and extracurricular activities. This application form is an integral part of this policy and must be completed prior to the time of intended use. The principal must also receive the appropriate fees before the group or organization uses the facility. No use of any school facility shall be permitted without the approval of the principal or his designee.
The adult in charge will have the responsibility of opening and securing the facility as well as maintaining order and control. The principal of any school may refuse the request of any organization or group to use school facilities when he/she believes it is not in the best interest of the school and community or if the group is located in another school community. High school gymnasiums may not be available during the winter season due to high school athletic and student activities.
D. Facilities Use by Non-Profit Organizations
Scout groups, political parties, churches and other nonprofit organizations shall be charged according to the approved fee schedule for use of facilities during non-school hours. Fees are listed below.
E. Facilities Use by Profit-Making Organizations
Profit-making organizations shall be charged according to the approved fee schedule for use of facilities during non-school hours. Fees collected shall be used to offset the cost of utilities. See procedures manual for fees.
| FACILITY |
FACILITY APPLICATION |
FEE PER HOUR CHARGES |
| |
Non-Profit |
Profit |
Heat |
AC |
| High School Gymnasium |
25.00 |
225.00 |
10.00 |
32.50** |
| High School Cafeteria |
20.00 |
225.00 |
10.00 |
20.00 |
| High School Media Center |
20.00 |
225.00 |
5.00 |
12.50 |
| High School Classroom |
10.00 |
100.00 |
5.00 |
12.50 |
| FACILITY |
APPLICATION FEE |
PER HOUR CHARGES |
| |
Non-Profit |
Profit |
Heat |
AC |
| Elementary School Gymnasium |
25.00 |
225.00 |
10.00 |
32.50 |
| Elementary School Cafeteria |
20.00 |
225.00 |
10.00 |
20.00 |
| Elementary School Media Center |
20.00 |
225.00 |
5.00 |
12.50 |
| Elementary School Classroom |
10.00 |
100.00 |
5.00 |
12.50 |
| Middle School Gymnasium |
25.00 |
225.00 |
10.00 |
32.50 |
| Middle School Cafeteria |
20.00 |
225.00 |
10.00 |
20.00 |
| Middle School Media Center |
20.00 |
225.00 |
5.00 |
12.50 |
| Middle School Classroom |
10.00 |
10.00 |
5.00 |
12.50 |
| Administrative Office Meeting Room |
20.00 |
100.00 |
5.00 |
12.50 |
| High School Stadium |
100.00 |
500.00 |
Cost of Electricity |
Cost of Electricity |
| Middle and High School Athletic Fields |
50.00 |
225.00 |
Cost of Electricity |
Cost of Electricity |
**High School Auxiliary Gyms have no fee for Air Conditioning with the exception of Wilkes Central High School.
F. Use of Equipment Outside the Buildings
School equipment may be loaned to responsible community groups for a worthy educational, civic, or charitable purpose when:
The group borrowing the equipment agrees in writing to accept responsibility for repairing or replacing any equipment damaged or lost while in its possession;
- The equipment is not unusually expensive and subject to easy damage;
- The equipment is in good condition; and
- The group will provide a competent operator for any machines loaned.
G. Supervision by School Representative
A representative of the Wilkes County Schools must be present at all times during the use of any school facility. This representative must be approved in advance by the principal or his designee. Compensation for the representative shall be at the rate of $15.00 per hour and shall be in addition to the fee for the facility.
H. Use of Kitchen Facilities
In the event the cafeteria/cafeteria equipment needs to be utilized, a current employee of Wilkes County Schools Child Nutrition must be present to supervise the use of the equipment and must be compensated at their hourly rate of pay by the sponsoring organization.
I. General Regulations for Use of School Facilities
- The use or possession of firearms, other weapons, alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs on school Property is strictly prohibited. The use of any tobacco product inside any facility operated by the Board of Education is strictly prohibited.
- Loud or profane conduct on school property is prohibited.
- The user shall not violate any federal or state statute or any local ordinance, including all federal and state laws prohibiting discrimination.
- The facility shall be maintained in a clean and orderly manner and shall be returned to school officials in the same condition as when received.
- All concession rights are reserved to the school in which the facility is located.
- Except for the use of outdoor elementary school facilities, school facilities shall not be used later than 11:00 PM or on Sundays or holidays without specific consent.
- The user shall provide complete supervision of all activities.
- The user accepts full responsibility for any personal injury or property damage which may occur during the time period of use of the facility.
- The user agrees to fully indemnify and hold harmless the Board of Education, its individual members, its employees and its agents from any and all liability whatsoever arising from any personal injury or property damage arising out of the use of the facility.
- Except for the use of outdoor elementary school facilities, the Board of Education shall require any user of a school facility to provide liability insurance in such amount as the Board of Education deems necessary to protect the Board of Education, its individual members, its officers, its employees and its agents from any liability whatsoever for personal injury or property damage arising in any manner whatsoever by reason of the use of school facilities.
J. Use by Governmental Agencies
This policy does not apply to the use of school facilities by the Town of Wilkesboro, the Town of North Wilkesboro, the Town of Ronda, the County of Wilkes or such other governmental units as the Board of Education may specify. Separate contractual agreements shall apply to the use of any school facility by governmental agencies.
K. Wilkes County Schools and the Board of Education reserve the right to waive any or all application fees for non-profit or school related activities.
L. Responsibility of User
Any individual, group of individuals, or organization using school facilities shall assume full responsibility for care of the facility and equipment during use, including demonstrating proper conduct at all times during use, cleaning the area following use, and reimbursing the school district for loss or damage incurred during use. The Board shall not be responsible for injury or loss to persons or property occurring during or as a result of the use of school facilities. The principal of any school may refuse use of outdoor Elementary School facilities when improper use, improper conduct, or negligent conduct is in evidence.
M. Use of Outdoor Elementary School Facilities
In accordance with the contractual agreement between the Wilkes County Schools and the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust and in furtherance of the objectives of the Community Schools Act, community members shall be permitted and encouraged to use outdoor elementary school facilities at all times when such utilization does not interfere with school sponsored programs. Therefore access to outdoor recreational facilities at the elementary schools shall be available outside of school hours. In addition, Sections C, D, E, And G of this policy does not apply to the use of outdoor elementary school facilities.
Legal References: Equal Access Act, 20 U.S.C.A. 4071 -4074; Community Schools Act, G.S. 115C, art. 13; 115C-524(b)
Cross References:
Adopted: January 9, 2006
Revised: March 15, 2010, October 3, 2011
5030 Facility Use Application (Word | PDF)