The Jersey Shore School Board tried to introduce a ruling last month by imposing huge fees on any activity (non-school) occurring on school property. Any activity or persons using school property falls into one of four categories with the Jersey Shore School District Facility Use Agreement (full agreement can be read here):
Class A – Non-profit organizations directly related to school sponsored activities. Examples of these organizations are student clubs, yearbook staff, booster clubs, and other organizations of similar purpose.
Class B - Non-profit organizations unrelated to school activities that provide a beneficial service to the citizens and community as a whole of the Jersey Shore Area School District. Examples of these organizations may include organizations such as the Jersey Shore Community Band, Jersey Shore YMCA, community youth programs (Little League), or community adult programs.
Class C - Non-profit organizations unrelated to school activities that provide a beneficial service to the citizens and community as a whole of the Jersey Shore Area School District, but which may not be primarily located within the Jersey Shore School District (PIAA event, county choir).
Class D – Commercial and profit generating activities that have limited benefit for the School District or the community as a whole.
Let's look at some examples:
The Jersey Shore YMCA provides child care to school-aged children, ages 5 to 12 years old, before and after school at Salladasburg, Jersey Shore, and Nippenose Elementary Schools. In addition, they also hold YMCA swim team practices at the high school pool. According to the facility use agreement, they fall into Class B. Using the facility use fee schedule (see here and basing the costs of the after-school program on only using ONE classroom); it would cost the Jersey Shore YMCA $750 every week to provide activities and guidance to area youth. This weekly cost would increase if they use more than one classroom and the gymnasiums for the after school programs.
Fortunately, several citizens concerned about youth activities and the onerous impact of this facility use agreement spoke at a school board meeting a few weeks ago. As a result, the Jersey Shore School Board called for a special meeting on November 5th at 7:00 PM at the Jersey Shore Middle School Auditorium on Thompson Street to address concerns.
PS - The Lion's Club, which holds a Santa event every December at Nippenose Elementary School (which fall under Class B) will be required to pay a fee under the proposed rule. Santa might need to cough up some money before he meets the kids!
