FILE: KF
USE OF SCHOOL FACILITIES
The Acadia Parish School Board recognizes the functions of school buildings and grounds shall be to accommodate approved school programs for students and to assist in meeting the educational, cultural, civic, social and recreational need of communities. Use of school buildings by the community shall be considered a secondary function so as not to interfere with regular school-day programs of the students. School buildings may be used by the public only in instances where there is no personal gain by any person or any group of persons. Facilities are not available to private individuals or political groups.
The sale and/or consumption of alcoholic beverages in school facilities and on Acadia Parish School Board property shall be prohibited at all times.
No person shall smoke or carry a lighted cigar, cigarette, pipe, or any other form of smoking object or device, on any school property. Smoking means the possession of a lighted cigar, cigarette, pipe or any other lighted tobacco product, including but not limited to e-cigs, e-cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, advanced personal vaporizers, vape pens, vape mods.
No person shall smoke, chew, inhale, ingest or absorb or otherwise consume any tobacco or tobacco product in any elementary or secondary school building, nor shall any student or school employee smoke, chew, inhale, or absorb, or otherwise consume any tobacco product on any other school property; however, this prohibition shall not be applicable to any tobacco product approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for sale as a tobacco cessation product and which is marketed and sold solely for such purpose.
This prohibition includes, but is not limited to, any e-cigs, e-cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, advanced personal vaporizers, vape pens, vape mods.
School property means school grounds, playgrounds, premises, and property, including but not limited to land, improvements, and school facilities located on the property of any elementary or secondary school. School property also means any school vehicle used for the provision of academic and extracurricular programs and administration at any elementary or secondary school.
Smoking, carrying a lighted cigar or cigarette, pipe or any other form of smoking object or device shall be prohibited in buildings and on the grounds of any other School Board property not located on the property of an elementary or secondary school, except in outdoor areas specifically designated as smoking areas by the building administrator.
ORGANIZATIONS
Classification of organizations eligible for use of school facilities:
| Group I: | Organizations eligible for free use of school facilities when no admission is charged
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| Group II: | Organizations charged for use of school facilities when no admission is charged All non-profit educational, cultural, recreational, and civic groups not in Group I above and profit-making organizations conducting not-for-profit affairs such as fund-raising activities for charitable purposes shall be charged a fee. Fees may be waived, when in the judgment of the principal involved and the Superintendent, the youth of the community served by the Acadia Parish Schools would benefit from the proposed activities. |
| Group III: | Organizations charged for the use of school facilities when admission is charged. All APSB employees, non-profit educational, cultural, recreational, and civic groups whether in Group I or Group II shall be assessed a fee.
Exceptions shall apply to student and parent/teacher functions when held to raise money for school-related and approved projects.
Fees may be modified for APSB employees to include only energy consumption during use of the facility and other incremental costs incurred to conduct the activity when, in the judgement of the principal involved and the Superintendent, the youth of the community served by the Acadia Parish Schools would benefit from the proposed activities that are in keeping with the general purposes of the public schools.
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| Group IV: | Organizations charged for use of school facilities Profit-making educational, cultural, recreational, and civic groups may be permitted to use school facilities when their activities encourage family participation in wholesome programs conducive to good citizenship and will be assessed a fee. |
| NOTE: | Professional boxing and professional wrestling under the sponsorship of any individual or any organization shall be prohibited on school premises. Activities involving any other professional individuals or groups must be approved by the principal of the school involved with the concurrence of the Superintendent. |
REQUIREMENTS
When the use of school facilities by the community is desired, the user shall:
Sign a Use of School Facilities Agreement form, which shall contain, but not be limited to, the following:
Waiver by the group of any and all rights of recovery from the School Board, its members, and the school district for any injuries or damages resulting from the use of school building facilities or grounds. The person, organization, or group shall provide a certificate of insurance showing insurance coverage for the event being held, with a minimum of $1,000,000 general liability per occurrence. The Acadia Parish School Board shall be listed on the policy as additional named insured. A certificate verifying the purchase of such insurance should be presented to the School Board at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to use of the facilities.
A statement that the individual or group lessee shall assume all responsibility for damages and/or maintenance expenses invested in the building, directly or indirectly resulting from lessee's use, including utilities and upkeep of the buildings and grounds.
A statement that no school facilities shall be used for hazardous activities as determined by the Superintendent.
In no way violate any law or ordinance in the use of the property.
Provide security as determined by the school administrator.
Pay a damage deposit as set by the School Board.
GENERAL REGULATIONS
The School Board shall direct the Superintendent to maintain appropriate administrative regulations and procedures governing the use of school facilities. These regulations shall include provisions as follow below.
Fees
Custodians shall be paid according to the Federal Wage and Hour Law, or $7.50, whichever is greater, if work is at a time other than the scheduled work day.
A minimum fee of $75.00 shall be assessed for the first hour of use, and an additional $25.00 per hour for each hour of use thereafter.*
A deposit of $75.00 must be made when fees are assessed.
All fees assessed are payable to the Acadia Parish School Board.
Stadiums
High school teams using a stadium on a regular basis shall bear all expenses incurred during the season, except custodial, on an equal prorated agreement (i.e., lights, water, tool maintenance, repairs, and bulb replacement costs).
If a school, which does not regularly use a given stadium, rents it for a night game, a charge of $200.00 shall be made, not including custodial services.
Because of high operational costs at Crowley High School, it is recommended that only organizations with a Group I classification should apply for use of facilities at that school. Organizations in Groups II, III, and IV applying for use of Crowley High School facilities will be assessed a minimum fee of $75.00 for the first hour of use, and an additional $50.00 per hour for each hour of use thereafter.
The organization shall be responsible for payment for the repair of any damage to school property and equipment lost or damaged, and, if a building, is not left in an acceptable condition, for payment for the labor necessary to restore it to an orderly condition.
The principal shall bill the organization for any damages incurred, and the check must be made payable to the Acadia Parish School Board.
Applicants with delinquent accounts shall be denied future use of school facilities.
The principal is authorized to approve or reject any application in keeping with these policies.
If the services of a law enforcement officer and/or fireman are required, the organization shall:
make the necessary arrangements for these services.
make the necessary payments for charges for the services directly to the proper authority.
Under no conditions shall anyone other than the principal, assistant principal, custodian, or a member of the Superintendent's administrative staff be issued a key for any of the public school buildings of Acadia Parish, with the exception that a coach, band director, shop instructor, cafeteria manager, or other school personnel may be issued individual keys to their respective departments. In addition, any unauthorized person or group found in a public school building or on the grounds of a school shall be subject to disciplinary action.
Priority of Use
A school shall have first priority for the use of its own facilities.
If a building or a facility is not being used by a school, priority of use to other schools and organizations shall be:
Other public schools of the parish
Private and parochial schools of the parish
Resident organizations of the parish
Out-of-parish organizations
The use of food service facilities by groups outside of the food service department and/or food service organization shall be in accordance with the regulations outlined by the Superintendent and staff.
No person, club, or organization granted permission to use school facilities shall bring, or permit to be brought, into or onto or about such school facility any alcoholic beverage, drug, or weapon as defined by the laws of the State of Louisiana and/or policies and regulations of the School Board. Smoking in the buildings shall also be prohibited.
No person shall be excluded from any meeting, program, or use because of that person's race, color, creed, national origin, sex, religious or political preference.
The falsification of any information required or the failure to comply with all policies, regulations, and/or procedures shall result in the person, group, or organization being prohibited from using any school facility in the future.
The School Board reserves the right, through the Superintendent, principal, or other designated person to cancel the use of any School Board-owned or operated facility at any time when deemed in the best interest of the school system.
Fees charged for facility use shall be in accordance with the schedule of fees approved by the School Board.
No hoofed animals shall be permitted on the athletic fields and/or any other area specified by the principal.
Use of school facilities shall not interrupt the school's instructional program.
SPECIAL PROVISIONS
Voting Precincts
Use of school buildings for voting or polling places shall be authorized by the School Board on the condition that election officials in charge on election day shall permit no loitering on the school premises. The principal shall determine where voting shall be held on school campuses.
Arrangements for opening and closing the facilities shall be made with the principal of the school involved and compensation shall be made to the appropriate individual.
Civil Defense
The Civil Defense director is authorized to use any and all necessary school facilities for emergency shelters or accommodations to help provide services to the public in the event of any declared emergency.
USE OF SCHOOL GROUNDS
The public shall be allowed to use school grounds (excluding buildings) for recreational or sport purposes only during daylight hours and only during the time when classes or other school or school-sponsored or approved activities are not being held. No motor vehicles of any type, firearms or explosives or other dangerous weapons or alcoholic beverages shall be allowed on any school grounds. All activities of a non-recreational or non-sports nature, such as political rallies, gatherings, or meetings shall usually be prohibited.
No supervisory personnel shall be provided during this time, and any person who uses the school grounds for the limited purposes set forth herein does so at his/her own risk. The School Board shall assume no liability for any accident, injury, or loss suffered by any person using the school grounds under the permission herein granted.
The person, group, or organization shall provide the required certificate of insurance prior to the use of school grounds.
Revised: November 5, 2018
Ref: Constitution of Louisiana, Art. VII, Sec. 14
La. Rev. Stat. Ann. ยงยง14:91.7, 17:81, 17:240, 40:1291.1, 40:1291.2, 40:1291.3, 40:1291.11, 40:1291.21
Board minutes, 6-1-98, 11-5-18
Acadia Parish School Board