Cromwell schools move to enforce facility rental regulations; board debates discounts for longtime arts renter

CROMWELL, Conn. — The Cromwell Board of Education on Oct. 7 discussed enforcing existing facility‑use regulations that administrators say have not been applied consistently for years, a change that produced immediate concern from an arts organization that has used school auditoriums for camps, rehearsals and performances.

Superintendent Dr. Macri opened the discussion by saying administration found that the district “was not enforcing the regulations” tied to its facility‑use policy and presented a payment structure the district intends to follow going forward. Lynn McKinney, facilities and operations coordinator, told the board the policy on the books requires a $700 minimum for the first four hours of auditorium rental and $125 per hour after that; custodial fees are billed separately and are treated as overtime when applicable.

The topic matters because administrators say custodial coverage, utilities, security and wear‑and‑tear on district buildings are being absorbed by the school budget. McKinney said, “At present, Cromwell Schools charges only for custodial services to both nonprofit and for profit when they're incurred. ... Our current approach unintentionally subsidizes private enterprises at the expense of our school and taxpayers.”

Company in Tempo — an arts program that has used Cromwell facilities for camps, rehearsals and multi‑day performance runs — objected to the timing and size of the charge. A public commenter speaking on the…