Guidelines considered for facility

Rules needed to use new building

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

— Who gets to use the new multipurpose facility?

And when?

Those are the questions being considered by school officials and School Board members.

Groups from the community have always used school facilities. In fact, the school’s written policy does not limit the use of the facilities to non-profit groups only.

Civic organizations as well as sports groups and others haveused the school’s gyms, cafeterias and classrooms, as well as outdoor areas.

With the completion of the new $2.3 million facility, school officials are examining guidelines to be good stewards of the taxpayers’ investment.

After a brief special School Board meeting Tuesday, Sept. 20, High School principal Rick Neal, athletic director Larry Walker and board members Ann Cato, Josh Ramsey, Darin Wright and Jenny Wood discussed various guidelines.

“Ours is a little more unique,” Walker said, after sharing some of the guidelines from neighboring school districts for school facilities. “It was presented as a multi-purpose facility and for community use.”

Walker said some of the larger districts limit the facilities to school use only, others require a school employee be on hand and the organization pay the wage of the school personnel.

Neal said Rogers hasthree categories of groups who may use the facility, but is in the process of changing their policy.

“This was built for community use, too,” Neal said.

“I think we’ve got a real fine line,” Ramsey said.

We don’t want to make rules that would hinder groups from using any of the other facilities.”

“It’s taxpayer money,” Walker said, “an outside entity using it - I don’t have a problem with that.”

“This is mainly for a dry place during wet conditions,” Walker said, explaining that use could not hinder the school’s teams from having first priority of use.

The group agreed to continue to research options.

News, Pages 1 on 09/28/2011