4260 Policy – Use of School Facilities

Bellingham Public School facilities are provided by the public and should be made available to the community for uses when practical and such use does not conflict with the operations of the district. District-sponsored activities, including curricular and co-curricular functions, retain first priority in use of facilities. Authorization for use of school facilities will not be considered as endorsement or approval of the activity, group or organization. All rentals are considered occasional use.

The public will be expected to reimburse the district for such use to ensure that funds intended for education are not used for other purposes. The superintendent is authorized to establish procedures for use of school facilities, including rental rates, supervisory requirements, restrictions, and security; and the superintendent may authorize exceptions to these procedures.

All users of district facilities must accept financial responsibility for any damage and must comply with the policy and procedure. Those using school facilities shall provide evidence of insurance for accidents and liability covering persons using the district’s facilities.

The district does not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably-discharged veteran or military status, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, homelessness, immigration or citizenship status, marital status, the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, neurodivergence, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability and provides equal access to Boy Scouts of America and other designated youth groups.

Community athletics programs that use district facilities will not discriminate against any person on the basis of sex in the operation, conduct or administration of their programs. The district will provide copies of the district’s nondiscrimination policy to all third parties using district facilities upon request.

Additionally, youth organizations engaged in sports activities and using school facilities must provide a statement of compliance with the policies for the management of concussion, head injury and sudden cardiac arrest in youth sports as required by RCW 28A.600.

A. Rental Group Categories

For rental rate purposes, organizations seeking the use of school facilities have been divided into three categories:

Category 0: District, School or Affiliated Groups

District, school, and affiliated groups including school events, district committees, staff wellness activities, professional development, PTA, booster clubs, ASB and similar groups. Staff wellness includes physical, mental and emotional health of district staff only. If any non-district staff person is included in an event, this does not qualify as a category 0 group with the exception of district committees.

a. Staff or adult sponsorship and supervision are required.

b. Typically, there is no facility use fee for these groups other than when the district incurs extra custodial or supervision costs due to use or impact during and outside of regular school hours.

Category 1: Youth Groups (ages 0 to grade 12)

Youth-centric group use includes activities whose attendance is primarily by youth ages grade 12 or younger.

c. Adult sponsorship and supervision are required.

d. Facility use fees and proof of liability insurance apply and may include custodial, equipment, or supervision fees based on the fee schedule and costs incurred by the district.

Category 2: Adult Groups

Adult-centric group use includes activities whose attendance is primarily by adults.

e. Facility use fees and proof of liability insurance apply and may include custodial, equipment, or supervision fees based on the fee schedule and costs incurred by the district.

B. Use of District Kitchen and Cafeteria Facilities

District kitchen and cafeteria facilities are available for use by all rental groups with the exclusion of use as a commissary kitchen.

Compliance with food safety standards are important to the health and safety of students, staff and the community. Rules for food safety and sanitation will be in compliance with all Washington State Food Service Rules and Regulations of the State Board of Health as well as all local requirements as determined by the Whatcom County Health and Human Services Department.

The district will develop necessary food safety and sanitation standards to comply with health regulation requirements. Standards are established to protect the health and safety of staff, students and community members. The superintendent or designee will ensure that each school administrators/supervisors monitor the operation of kitchen facility to comply with state and local food safety and health regulations and requirements.

C. Use of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

“Electric vehicle” means any vehicle that operates, either partially or exclusively, on electrical energy from an off-board source, that is stored on-board for motive purpose.

“Electric vehicle charging station” means a parking space that is served by battery charging equipment that is district owned and publicly available that has as its primary purpose the transfer of electric energy to a battery or other energy storage device in an electric vehicle.

Electric vehicle charging stations may be used by any member of the public, including district employees and students, subject to the payment of applicable charges and any posted limitations on hours of operation and length of time a vehicle may be parked in a parking space.

Fee for Use and Signage

Vehicles parked in electric vehicle parking spaces must be connected to the charging equipment and in the process of charging. Electric vehicle parking spaces will be indicated by signage identifying the space as a publicly available electric vehicle charging station and indicating that it is only for electric vehicle charging.

A per session fee for charging station use shall be established by the district by periodic resolution and posted on the charging station interface. The signage will disclose all rates associated with a charging session at the point of sale and prior to a user initiating a charging session.

District owned vehicles will have first priority usage of charging stations and will not be charged for usage of district owned electric vehicle charging stations.

Supplementary signage may be posted at the point of sale to provide additional information including, but not limited to, hours of operation, any limitations on the length of time a vehicle may be connected to the charging equipment.

The district retains the right to remove vehicles in publicly available parking spaces during school and operating hours that conflict with the operations of the district.

Cross References:

Policy 3210 - Nondiscrimination

Policy 3422 - Student Sports - Concussion, Head Injury and Sudden Cardiac Arrest

Policy 4217 - Effective Communication

Policy 6112 - Rental or Lease of District Real Property

Legal References:

RCW 28A.230.180 Access to campus and student information directories by official recruiting representatives Informing students of educational and career opportunities.

RCW 28A.335.170 Contracts to lease building space and portable buildings, rent or have maintained security systems, computers and other equipment, and provide pupil transportation services.

RCW 4.24.660 Liability of school districts under contracts with youth programs

RCW28A.320.510 Night schools, summer schools, meetings, use of facilities for

RCW 28A.335.150 Permitting use and rental of playgrounds, athletic fields, or athletic facilities

RCW 28A.335.155 Use of buildings for youth programs Limited immunity