Skip To Main Content

KF

Adoption Date: 8/10/1972, Revised: 10/24/1974; 10/23/1975, 12/19/1979, 2/26/1992, 2/8/1995, 4/10/2002, 2/13/2013, 1/22/2020
K - Community Relations

KF 
 
Use of School Facilities

The Dudley-Charlton Regional School Committee encourages the use of school facilities for non-profit educational, charitable, recreational and civic purposes by recognized responsible organizations insofar as it is practical to do so without interference with school activities. There will be no charge for town use for the following activities:  Elections, Party Caucuses, Town Meetings, Police Exams, Board of Health Clinics and Old Home Day.

 Use of school buildings and other facilities will be used according to the regulations and rental fee schedules recommended by the Superintendent and approved by the School Committee.

 No group shall be permitted to use school facilities where such use interferes with regular school activities or may cause excessive depreciation or damage to school property

Permission for the use of facilities must be obtained through the office of the Superintendent or designee, where applications are available for this purpose.

In considering requests for the use of school facilities, the Superintendent or designee will only take requests for the type of activities for which the facility is intended.

 

Eligibility

 School facilities will be available for the following:

  1. Public school activities
  1. Parent-teacher activities
  1. Official town public hearings and political activities
  1. Meetings and activities sponsored by the School Committee and school personnel
  1. Activities of the Dudley and Charlton recreation committees
  1. Metropolitan civic, educational, social, and religious organization activities if a substantial portion of the members are residents of the towns
  1. The activities of other organizations when approved by the school committee

 

School and town preference

The priority given requests for use of school facilities will be as follows:

  1. School activities
  1. Town meetings and elections over the other community activities
  1. Activities of Dudley and Charlton recreation committees

When approval is given, charges will be required for the cost of custodial coverage, energy costs, security, and other expenses incurred by the users as determined by the superintendent or designee. There will be no charges for school-sponsored activities. Waivers of normal fees may be granted by the Superintendent or designee when the primary purpose of use is charitable, when fees constitute a hardship to the sponsoring organization, and when no obvious cost results to the school department. Such waivers may be granted by the Superintendent or designee when the use is by a school, municipal group, or by a group serving resident children, or by School Committee.

Organizations that operate on a "for profit" basis will be charged a facility fee in accordance with a prevailing schedule. Rental charges for the actual use of the facility will be billed to the organization prior to the scheduled event.

Approved users of the approved district rental agreement will be responsible for compliance with statutes and regulations of the Commonwealth such as enforcement of prohibitions on smoking, alcoholic beverages, hazing, and weapons.

In the event that school is canceled or there has been an early release due to inclement weather or other emergencies, outside rentals will also be canceled. Organizers of each group should monitor the district website and will be responsible for conveying this action to the group.

 Exceptions to this policy, including use by profit-making organizations, shall be determined by a positive two-thirds vote by the School Committee.

 The School Committee reserves the right:

  1. To review all applications and to make special regulations in the event of emergency
  2. To reject any and all requests for the use of school property

Adopted August 10, 1972

Amended October 24, 1974

Amended October 23, 1975

Amended December 19, 1979

Amended February 26, 1992

Amended February 8, 1995

Amended April 10, 2002

Amended February 13, 2013

Amended:

First Reading: January 8, 2020

Second Reading

and Adoption: January 22, 2020