POLICY
1500
USE OF
The Board of Education
encourages the use of school buildings, grounds and other property by district
residents and nonprofit organizations or groups for educational, civic and
recreational purposes at times when they are not in use for school purposes or
school related activities.
It is the intent and policy
of the Board to balance the interests of preserving school buildings, grounds
and other property for the principle purpose of educating students within the
district with the desire to permit specific uses of school buildings, grounds and
other property by organizations and groups when such uses will not interfere
with educational activities. This policy is intended to comply with section 414
of the New York State Education Law which authorizes, but does not require,
school districts to open school facilities for certain types of activities.
This policy is intended to create and preserve a limited public forum within
all district buildings, grounds and other property.
In accordance with the
provisions of this policy, the Superintendent of Schools shall establish
reasonable regulations for the permissible community use of school buildings,
grounds and other property and shall afford equal consideration to all eligible
applicants.
In accordance with the New
York State Education Law, the following uses of school buildings, grounds and
other property are acceptable:
§
for the purpose of instruction in any branch of education,
learning or the arts;
§
for public library purposes;
§
for holding social, civic and recreational meetings and entertainments,
and other uses pertaining to the welfare of the community;
§
for meetings, entertainments and occasions where admission fees
are charged, when the proceeds are to be expended for an educational or
charitable purpose;
§
for polling places for holding primaries and elections, and for
the registration of voters, and for holding political meetings;
§
for civic forums and community centers, in accordance with the
requirements of the New York State Education Law;
§
for classes of instruction for mentally retarded minors operated
by a private organization approved by the commissioner of education;
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POLICY 1500
§
for recreation, physical training and athletics, including
competitive athletic contests of children attending a private, nonprofit school;
§
for non-school hours child care programs, provided that the cost
of care is paid for by the person responsible for the support of such child,
the local social services district as authorized by law or by any other public
or private voluntary sources or any combination thereof;
§
for graduation exercises held by not-for-profit elementary and
secondary schools.
Approval of requests will be
at the discretion of the Board of Education in accordance with the applicable
provisions of law.
Any use not permitted by this
policy is prohibited. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the New York State Education Law and the Constitution of New
York State specifically prohibit the following uses of the District's school
buildings, grounds and other property:
§
social, civic and recreational meetings and entertainments which
are exclusive and not open to the general public;
§
meetings, entertainments and occasions where admission fees are
charged and the proceeds are not to be expended for an educational or
charitable purpose;
§
meetings, entertainments and occasions for an educational or
charitable purpose where admission fees are charged, and the meetings,
entertainments and occasions are under the exclusive control of, and the said
proceeds are to be applied for the benefit of a society, association, or
organization of a religious sect or denomination, or of a fraternal, secret or
exclusive society or organization other than organizations of a veterans of the
military, naval and marine service of the United States and organizations of
volunteer firefighters or volunteer ambulance workers;
§
political meetings or rallies unless specifically authorized by a vote of
District residents in a school election. (Such an election must be called by
the Board of Education upon petition of at least 10% of the qualified voters of
the District.)
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POLICY 1500
Fees
Fees shall be established to
cover costs to the
§
those conducted by school personnel that are specifically
authorized to be exempt by the Board of Education;
§
meetings and special events of the Parent-Teacher Association and
other formally established and Board of Education recognized parent groups such
as organizations of the parents of school-based athletes, musicians or science
students;
§
meetings of local volunteer fire departments, and veterans organizations
(as herein above defined) and volunteer ambulance groups.
§
Activities of youth groups conducting youth activities with a
majority of district residents as participants.
Adopted by B.O.E.:
(3)
REGULATION
1500-R
USE OF
The following rules and
regulations are designed to provide for the proper use of school buildings,
grounds and other property for non-school purposes and to give each eligible
group equal consideration for such use. Use of district facilities may be
permitted unless in use for school purposes, or during educational programs. This district reserves exclusive and nonreviewable
judgment to determine if a requested use would interfere with or disturb the
district's educational programs.
1. Eligibility
Any nonprofit organizations
or groups with membership in or a base of operations within the School
District, which does not engage in activities which conflict with the policy of
the Board of Education, the New York State Education Law and/or the
Constitution of New York State, is eligible to apply for use of the public
school buildings, grounds and other property when they are not in use for
school purposes or school related activities.
2. Procedures for
Application
2.1 All
applications for use of buildings, grounds and other property must be made in
writing on
2.2 The applicant must clearly and completely describe the
intended use of the district facility in the application.
2.3 All applicants must review this policy prior to submitting
the application. All applications must be signed by an authorized agent for the
group or organization requesting use. The applicant's signature and telephone
number on the application shall attest to the group or organization's intent to
comply with all Board policies and regulations and to use district facilities
strictly in accordance with the use described in the application.
2.4 The first application made by any organization or group must be
accompanied by a copy of its constitution or a letter from a responsible
officer stating in detail the aims and principles of said organization or
group. The constitution or letter will remain on file with the
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R-1500
2.5 Each application must state the anticipated number of District
residents and out-of-district participants who will use the facility.
2.6 A permanent legal residence within the boundaries of the