4260 Use of School Facilities
USE OF SCHOOL FACILITIES
The board believes that public schools are owned and operated by and for the community. The public is encouraged to use school facilities but will be expected to reimburse the district for such use to ensure that funds intended for education are not used for other purposes. On recommendation of the superintendent, the board will set the rental rates schedule.
The superintendent is authorized to establish procedures for posting of signage and use of school facilities, including rental rates, supervisory requirements, restrictions, and security. Those using school facilities will maintain insurance for accidents and liability covering persons using the district’s facilities under the sponsorship of the organization.
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 Boy Scouts of America 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 notice of the district’s nondiscrimination policy to all third parties using district facilities.
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.
Youth organizations engaged in sports activities and using school facilities must provide a statement of compliance for the management of concussion and head injury in youth sports as required by RCW 28A.600
For rental rate purposes, organizations seeking the use of school facilities have been divided into four categories:
Group I – District Sponsored Events and School Partner Nonprofit Groups
District sponsored events occurring outside the normal school day and nonprofit groups partnered with the Stanwood-Camano School District whose purpose is to support the mission of the Stanwood-Camano School District, i.e., PTA’s, PTO’s and Booster Clubs, no facility fee shall be charged. Under certain circumstances involving significant use of utilities (such as weekends), excessive clean-up, or extensive use of the stadium lighting as determined by the district, the district reserves the right to assess fees according to the established fees.
Group II – Nonprofit Groups Serving Youth with No Selection Criteria, Nonprofit Organizations Conducting Community Education or Community Service, and Public Entities
Nonprofit groups serving youth must have open enrollment and open participation of all ability levels. Examples include Scouts, Campfire, 4-H groups, SCJAA, recreational soccer leagues, recreational little leagues, etc. Special events (beyond regular league play) charging donations, entry fees, admission fees, etc. may be charged Group III user fees at the discretion of the district. This does not apply to the sale of concessions.
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, except that such 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 for 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.
Group III –Nonprofit Groups Serving Youth with Selection Criteria, Other Nonprofit Organizations, and Individual Users
Nonprofit groups serving youth that do not have open participation of all ability levels. Examples include AAU, SWISH, select soccer clubs, and all other nonprofit groups and individual users. Churches, craft shows, meeting space, adult sports, etc., are also included in this Group. Nonprofit groups of the kind that in most communities have their own facilities (churches, lodges, veterans groups, granges, etc.) that wish to use district facilities on a regular, but temporary, basis may do so under this rental rate, but for no more than two years and may not average more than twelve hours of use per week.
Group IV – Commercial Enterprises or For-Profit Organizations
Commercial Enterprises include profit-making organizations and business-related enterprises (including daycares). While the district would prefer these organizations use commercial or private facilities, facilities may be rented for non-regular use per the district’s fee schedule.
Cross References: 3422 - Student Sports – Concussion, Head Injury and Sudden Cardiac Arrest
6815 – Advertising on District Property
Legal References:
RCW 4.24.660 Liability of school districts under contracts with youth programs
RCW 28A.230.180 Access to campus and student information directories by official recruiting representatives – Informing students of educational and career opportunities.
RCW 28A.320.510 Night schools, summer schools, meetings, use of facilities for
RCW 28A.335.150 Permitting use and rental of playgrounds, athletic fields, or athletic facilities
RCW 28A.335.155 Use of buildings for youth programs – Limited immunity
RCW 28A.600.190 Youth sports—Concussion and head injury guidelines
20 USC Sec. 7905 Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act
34 CFR Sec. 108.6 Equal Access to Public School Facilities for the Boy Scouts of America and Other Designated Youth Groups
AGO 1973 No. 26 Initiative No. 276--School districts Use of school facilities for presentation of programs – Legislature – Elections
Adoption Date: 4.17.01
Stanwood-Camano School District
Revised: 06.03.03, 06.07.05, 6.19.07; 9.2.25