The Hart County Board of Education will permit its school facilities to be used by associations or organizations located within the county for appropriate activities which do not interfere with any activity of the school system, under the following conditions:
- School-sponsored activities will have first priority in the use of school facilities. Further, those groups or organizations which exist solely to support the school or a school program, such as parent/teacher organizations and booster clubs, shall have second priority with regard to the use of school facilities. Such groups shall be allowed to use school facilities without charge.
- Any other governmental entity in the county or any other public educational institution will be allowed to use school facilities in accordance with this policy or in accordance with any existing intergovernmental agreement between the school district and the other governmental entity.
- Any organization, association or business located in the county or composed primarily of the county residents may request to use the facilities of the school system by filing with the principal of the school an application on a form prepared and maintained by the school system. The application shall include a fee schedule indicating the facilities of the school subject to use under this policy and the charge or charges associated with that use. These charges shall also include an amount sufficient to pay school system employees for any services, such as janitorial, maintenance or kitchen services, determined by the principal or Superintendent to be necessary in connection with the use of the facility. The form will designate the contact person who will be the person accountable for complying with the requirements of this policy.
- Permission to use school system facilities does not constitute the endorsement by the Board of Education or the school system of any organization, the beliefs of the organization, nor the expression of any opinion by the organization or any of its representatives.
- The system reserves the right to withhold approval or to cancel any approved use of school facilities when it is determined that such use would be disruptive to the mission or purpose of the school system or if cancellation is necessary for the best interests of the school system or its students.
- An application for use of school facilities must be filed with the principal of the school in accordance with this policy in advance of the anticipated use. The application must be approved by the principal, the Superintendent and the Board. Any and all fees due for the use of the facility must be paid in advance of the use of the facility.
- As a part of the application form, all applicants for use of the facility must execute an agreement to hold the Board of Education harmless from any and all loss or damage that may arise during or be caused in any way by the use of the facility. This hold harmless agreement shall include the indemnification for any damages done to the building or property owned by the Board of Education as well as any claim of damages made by anyone else. Further, the agreement shall include a specific release on behalf of the organization using the facility.
- The Superintendent may, as a condition of use of the facility, require the organization to secure adequate police protection if deemed necessary in the discretion of the Superintendent or designee.
- The organization seeking to use the facilities will be required to furnish evidence of sufficient insurance in an amount to protect the school district from liability for any bodily injury or damage to property which may occur during the use of facilities by such group or organization. This requirement may be waived by the Superintendent where he/she determines, in his/her sole discretion, that sufficient protection is available in the absence of such insurance.
- Long-term use of system facilities by any organization is prohibited. The only exception to this provision will be when there exists an intergovernmental agreement such as referred to in paragraph 2 above.
- The organization using the facility is responsible for insuring that the facility is returned in a state of cleanliness and in the same condition as when made available for use. Any and all activities conducted on school facilities shall be in compliance with all local, state and federal laws and shall conform to existing and relevant school board policies. Illegal drugs, alcoholic beverages and all forms of tobacco are prohibited in school facilities and on school grounds.
- Any failure to comply with the terms of this policy will result in the organization and the designated contact person not being allowed to use school facilities in the future.
- The Superintendent is authorized to prepare regulations or procedures as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this policy.
Hart County Board of Education Policy KG-Use of School Facilities
