SUSQUEHANNA TOWNSHIP SCHOOL DISTRICT

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17109

POLICY

 COMMUNITY USE OF SCHOOL FACILITIES

It is the desire of the Susquehanna Township School Board to make available school facilities for use by the citizens of the Susquehanna Township. These facilities will be available when such use will not conflict with the regular school program and when such use will result in general community betterment. This policy is intended to make possible the maximum educational return, based upon the community’s financial investment in school plans and equipment.

Any organization granted the use of school facilities must comply with the following conditions:

All arrangements for the use of school facilities shall be subject to the provisions which follow:

      1.   APPLICATION FOR USE:

A.       APPLICATION – Written application for the use of school buildings or grounds must be completed on forms provided for that purpose and submitted to the Business Manager at least one month prior to the date of the requested use. If the facilities are to be used by a group or organization, the application shall be made in the name of the organization and signed by an officer or authorized representative thereof.

B.       AVAILABILITY – All applications for facilities are dependent upon the availability of the facilities. The school program and its organizations have prior right to use all facilities. School maintenance programs shall also enjoy priority. Approved non-school groups will be assigned space according to the order of

receipt of application. School facilities normally will not be available on holidays.

C.       INSURANCE – The applicant agrees to assume all responsibility for damage claims or liability of any kind arising out of or by reason of its use of the school facilities and further agrees to save and hold the School District harmless from any claims, liability, expense or cost in connection with that use of the school facilities. The Business Manager may require the applicant to furnish a bond or a certificate of insurance to guarantee or assure performance of this assumption of liability and indemnification agreement but failure to so require shall not be deemed a waiver thereof. The School District is insured for liability damage hazards, but this insurance may not cover the applicant.

D.       SUBLETTING – After the application has been approved and signed by or on behalf of the Susquehanna Township School District and by the applicant, it becomes binding upon the applicant. The applicant may not assign, sublet or transfer its right or privileges to any other individual, group or organization.

E.       TAXES – Any taxes to local, state or federal government are to be paid by the organization using the school facility.

F.       RESPONSIBILITY – The applicant will assign one person to direct and to be responsible for the use of the facility during occupancy. The assigned person is to be present during the time the building is being used.

G.       EXPIRATION – The permission extended to any applicant to use the school buildings or grounds within any school year shall expire automatically at the end of that year (June 30).

H.       PAYMENT – A statement for use of facilities and services rendered will be forwarded to the applicant within one week after the event. Payment will be due upon receipt of the statement. All checks should be made payable to the Susquehanna Township School District.

I.         REVOCATION – The Business Manager has the power to revoke permission if, in his judgment, proper use is not being made of the school facility, or for violation of the Rules and Regulations or other provisions of this Policy.

            2.        RULES AND REGULATIONS:

           Since the Board of School Directors is charged by law with the responsibility for providing, maintaining and protecting school facilities, the right to deny the use of school facilities must be reserved when deemed necessary in the public interest. The following Rules and Regulations will be used in interpreting “the public interest”:

A.       The applicant shall conduct orderly meetings, and further, such gatherings will not be of a nature to incite others to disorder.

B.       All school buildings and grounds may be used for educational, civic, social, recreational and similar activities by individuals, non-profit and for-profit organizations within the School District. With the exception of the Atlantic Coast Championship for Marching Bands (ACC) and the PIAA, the applicant must be a legal resident of or have its registered address within the School District.

C.        Buildings or grounds shall not be used for a purpose which is unlawful.

D.       The use of alcoholic beverages in school buildings or on school grounds is prohibited. Tobacco use is prohibited in all school buildings, and on buses, vans or other vehicles owned by, leased by, or under the control of the School District. Tobacco use by a person other than a pupil is permitted outdoors in areas at least 50 feet away from any school building, stadium, bleachers or athletic field. Food may be taken into cafeterias only.

E.       School buildings shall not be used for parties or celebrations, which are essentially private in nature – this exclusion includes birthday, anniversary, wedding and other similar parties.

F.       Except during the permitted time of use of the facility, there shall be no signs, banners, pennants, etc., placed in or on school buildings or on school grounds by or on behalf of the applicant. This prohibition does not apply to school or school affiliated functions or to official polling places on Election Day.

G.       The applicant agrees to assume responsibility for confining spectators and participants to the room or parts of the building specifically included in the agreement.

H.       Attendees of a permitted use are prohibited from engaging in speech or conduct which, as defined by the United States Supreme Court, constitutes: obscenity; fighting words; incitement to lawless activity or presenting a clear and present danger to the security of the nation; or commercial speech.

I.         All promotional literature, flyers, brochures or publicity using any media shall contain a prominent disclaimer that the use of the school facilities does not imply endorsement by the School District.

J.        The use of any picture, image or other depiction of any school facility, property, student or employee on promotional literature, flyers, brochures, or in publicity using any other media is prohibited.

K.       Prior to distribution or publication of promotional literature, flyers, brochures or publicity using any media, Applicant shall submit samples to be reviewed by the Superintendent to verify compliance with H, I and J above.

3.   TIME OF USE:

A.       When school is in session, school buildings ordinarily will be available only between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and on Saturday 8-5. Other times must be specially arranged with the Business Manager.

B.       Building will be open one-half hour before the scheduled time of the program and closed one quarter hour after the scheduled end of the program.

      4.   SERVICES:

A custodian or other responsible personnel must be on duty at all times when a facility is in use. A custodial fee will be charged to all applicable applicants.

These services include unlocking the building; turning on such lights as hall, house, outside, etc.; unlocking exit doors for the area being used and making certain that they are free of obstructions; turning on exit lights; making certain police and fire regulations are met; setting up chairs and, after the meeting, normal cleaning and arranging the room(s) for regular school use.

All apparatus, equipment and devices owned by the school shall be operated by school employees at the expense of the applicant. An employee of the School District directs an official stage crew, which is properly trained to operate the stage, house lights, stage curtain, sound equipment, projector and school-owned props. The crew will not participate in loading equipment for the program, but will help arrange stage settings and work during the program on the operation of equipment.

If no custodian or other responsible personnel is available during the scheduled time of a permitted use, that use will be cancelled.

      5.   CAFETERIAS:

Use of kitchen facilities, equipment and services may be granted upon request, at the option of the School Board, under applicable state and federal regulations.

Unless otherwise approved by the Food Services Director, only school cafeteria employees, properly trained in the use of cafeteria equipment, will be permitted to work in the kitchen.

The cost of each meal or time prepared in the cafeteria kitchen will be determined by including the cost of the ingredients together with the wages of the employees who will be required to prepare, serve and “clean-up” at the conclusion of the event.

Approved by the School Board – February 23, 1976

Amended by the School Board – June 8, 1987

Amended by the School Board – April 23, 2001

Amended by the School Board – January 27, 2003

Amended by the School Board – July 25, 2005

Amended by the School Board – December 22, 2008