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BoE OKs big rent hikes on facilities

By J. FRANK LYNCH
jflynch@theCitizenNews.com

In the face of rising energy and labor costs, the Fayette County Board of Education has agreed to dramatic increases in the rental rates its charges to outside groups using school facilities, in some cases doubling and tripling the rate now charged.

Board members voted unanimously Monday night to revise two different policies addressing rental contracts, one dealing with general facilities like classrooms, cafeterias, gyms and athletic fields, and another specific to auditoriums.

The increases apply to the hourly rental rates charged to private, non-governmental or educational groups for using just about every facility the Board of Education owns, and come with a three-hour minimum, said Fred Phillips, Purchasing and Inventory Management Agent for the school system.

The increase may hit some start-up churches hard, since several have been using school facilities until they raise enough money to build their own houses of worship.

For example, the most basic fee charged to rent a single classroom will go from $15 to $45 per hour, or $135 total over the three-hour minimum period, Phillips said.

High school gymnasiums remain the most expensive to rent, with the rate leaping from $42 to $120 an hour, for a three-hour minimum of $360.

Many groups have never been charged for the use of athletic fields, Phillips said, but the revised policy fixes that.

The most expensive outdoor rate applies to football stadiums, which will go for $100 an hour if the field lights are used, or half that if the event is held in the daytime.

Also for the first time, rental rates will be applied to the use of school practice fields. The only outside groups that will be exempt from paying the new fee structure are the Fayette County and Peachtree City Youth Basketball Associations, and local Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, Phillips said.

The changes will take effect almost immediately, starting Jan. 1, 2005, though contracts and rental agreements already in place will be honored.

As always, first priority on the use of any facilities goes to school groups, Phillips emphasized. The decision to lease a facility to a group will be made by the individual school principals or central office administrators, he said.

Only decisions about leasing facilities to for-profit organizations will require board approval, Phillips said.

School administrators became aware of the gap in rental revenue versus expenses last year, when it implemented a systemwide energy conservation program, Phillips said.

“When we looked at our energy conservation program, we realized we weren’t being consistent with what was going on after hours,” Phillips told the board. “The fees being charged to outside groups weren’t enough in many cases to cover the cost of utilities during those times.”

The new established rates represent what it costs the school system to operate the facilities, clarified Board Member Janet Smola, and don’t reflect a profit.

A committee of administrators, coaches, teachers and community leaders worked for several months to come up with the new fee structure, he said. Additional fees may apply for security, custodial help or other expenses, Phillips said.

Amending the policy on auditoriums was deemed necessary since two new facilities came on line this year at Whitewater and Sandy Creek high schools. McIntosh High is scheduled to get its own auditorium next fall, Phillips pointed out.

The major change in that policy is an increase in the refundable security deposit from $100 to $500. Also, the rental rates for private, non-governmental or education groups was set at $160 an hour, while a new hourly rate was established for other community groups at $75 an hour.

Superintendent John DeCotis said the policy changes were strictly driven by economics.

“We’ve had no problems with vandalism or that sort of thing, so we’re been very lucky in that regard,” he said, adding that some issues with the municipalities and recreation leagues still need to be ironed out.

For example, school swim teams make use of Peachtree City’s Kedron Aquatics Center, and the McIntosh High lacrosse team will play games this spring on Riley Field, two reasons for the board and the city to reach concessions on using facilities, DeCotis said.