The Palmyra Area School District board considered and rejected a request on Sept. 11 to waive custodial fees for a youth basketball booster group. The motion to grant the waiver failed by a 3-5 vote after an extended discussion among board members and staff about policy consistency, precedents and the financial effect on nonprofit booster organizations.
Board members who opposed the waiver stressed that the district had recently adopted a facilities-fee policy and that exceptions would undercut the policy's purpose. They said the district must reliably recoup custodial costs, which include wages and benefits, and that the fee schedule had been communicated to user groups.
Several board members and at least one administrator said the district already had made exception decisions earlier in the summer (they referenced a prior waiver and a football-related waiver) and that granting further exceptions would set a difficult precedent. Other trustees and one speaker urged sympathy for boosters, noting booster clubs operate on tight budgets and that the district relies on volunteers to support extracurricular programs.
Business/operations staff said the district had taken steps to improve communication about custodial and rental rates, adding an email confirmation asking users to acknowledge the hourly charges when booking facilities.
The motion to waive custodial fees failed. Board members said they would keep the facilities-fee policy under review and that the athletic/sports committee would consider broader fee questions and potential changes.