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Policy KF

Community Use Of School Facilities

It is the Board’s desire that the local taxpayers who provide the school should be able to obtain maximum use of the facilities, to the extent consistent with the primary educational function of the school.  It is intended that community uses for educational, recreational, social, civic, and philanthropic and like purposes be approved by the administration, in accordance with this policy, the implementing regulations, and a fee schedule approved annually by this Board.

 The Superintendent is responsible for developing administrative regulations which provide for:  timely applications; uses which do not interfere with educational or extracurricular programs of the public school students; preference to local, not-for-profit organizations; and the acceptance of appropriate responsibility and liability.

The following provisions apply to community use:

  1. A certificate of insurance shall be required as appropriate to the particular use;

    1. Any non-school or non-South Portland government group must have an insurance bond for liability  ($1,000,000) and damage ($25,000). Any facilities used by the applicant will be examined carefully  after use and the applicant agrees to make restitution promptly for any loss or damage occurring  during the applicant’s use of the facilities.  

  2. No alcoholic beverages may be brought onto school property at any time;

  3. Tobacco is not allowed on school property;

  4. School facilities may not be used for any illegal purposes;

  5. Community adults and children are free to use outdoor grounds and facilities for recreation whenever not otherwise scheduled.  However, formal approval of buildings and grounds use will only be granted to recognized organizations and groups;

  6. Any approval of the use of school facilities is to require the signing of a Facility Use Agreement setting forth the conditions of use;

  7. Application for use is to be made through established protocols, with final approval determined by the Superintendent; and

  8. Repeat use may be denied to any group which has not demonstrated appropriate conduct and care.

Other groups shall pay rent, in advance, on a multi-increment scale which reflects highest amounts for groups engaging in a profit-making enterprise on school grounds. The Board of Education shall approve a schedule of fees for the use of school facilities, based upon actual  costs as determined by the business manager. Waivers of fees may be granted, at the discretion of the  Board of Education, in exceptional situations. 

 The following may be requested of any group:

 Reimbursement for incidental expenses (e.g., utilities);

  1. A deposit with the application, refundable after leaving the facility in satisfactory condition;

  2. Reimbursement for property damage and any cleaning and repair costs;

  3. Reimbursement for custodian or other staff costs when necessary to the use of the facility; and

  4.  Fees for rental of equipment.

Cross Reference: KG-R  


Adopted: July 14, 1980  

Revised: February, 1998  

Revised: August 10, 1998  

Revised: February 26, 2003  

Revised: March 10, 2003  

Revised: March 19, 2012  

Revised: June 11, 2012  

Revised: March 10, 2014 

Revised: November 12, 2024

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