District 58 proposes updated facility rental fees and software to manage bookings

District 58 staff on Monday outlined proposed updates to building rental rates, a tier structure to favor in‑district nonprofits and a plan to buy facility‑rental software intended to improve public access and invoicing.

Administrators said current rental rate schedules date to the 1990s and do not reflect new or renovated space created by the district’s recent referendum projects. They proposed a tiered fee schedule that: gives the greatest discount to district‑adjacent groups (PTAs and school‑sponsored groups), a discounted rate to local nonprofits, standard rates to for‑profit groups inside the community and higher rates for for‑profit groups from outside the district. The proposal retains existing intergovernmental agreements (for example, the park district retains priority arrangements for certain uses) and keeps custodial fees separate from base rental fees.

To streamline requests and increase availability, administrators proposed purchasing a commercial rental‑management software product. Two vetted options were described; the anticipated annual cost is about $6,000–$7,000 with an implementation fee of about $2,000. District staff said that with revised rates and expanded use, they expect rental revenue to cover the software cost and improve overall workflow; they estimated the software purchase and implementation would not exceed the board’s financial threshold for required approval and they plan to bring a formal request back to the board for fee schedule adoption.

Administrators asked the board for feedback and said they will return with a motion to adopt the updated fee schedule and to contract for the booking software. They also said they will advertise the revised rates once approved and target implementation before or shortly after winter break, with training for building secretaries and custodial staff.