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Board weighs Boys & Girls Club request to allow alcohol at fundraisers; attorney raises precedent concerns
Summary
The board discussed a possible second lease amendment and city memorandum of understanding that could allow the Boys & Girls Club, a 501(c)(3), to serve alcohol at campus fundraisers; district counsel said the change could require a policy change and raised concerns about precedent and liability.
Board members discussed whether to permit the Boys & Girls Club to serve alcohol at fundraising events on school district property and the legal, policy and liability implications of doing so.
Superintendent and counsel briefed the board that one path forward would require a change to district policy (the current Neola policy and related language prohibits alcohol on district property), amendment of the lease with the Boys & Girls Club and a memorandum of understanding between the city and the Boys & Girls Club to waive a city ordinance that bars alcohol within 500 feet of a school building. The superintendent told the board that outside counsel had advised the approach exists but that counsel would not recommend it without caution because allowing one 501(c)(3) to do so could create precedent and requests from others (for example, PTAs or other nonprofits) to seek similar allowances.
Representatives of the Boys & Girls Club told the board such fundraising flexibility is important to the nonprofit’s ability to raise private philanthropy to maintain and operate its facility and programs. “Most of the major fundraising does have alcohol associated with it,” said Noel Bobco, who identified himself as a Boys & Girls Club representative, adding that the organization serves thousands of local students and faces grant reductions.
Board members asked staff to obtain a written legal opinion from district counsel that addresses the Sarasota example referenced in the discussion, to return an updated lease amendment draft reflecting any language risk management requests, and to obtain updated liability‑insurance pricing reflecting the district’s certification that alcohol may be allowed at certain nonprofit events. Several board members emphasized the significance of precedent and asked for full legal and insurance information before moving forward.
Why it matters: Allowing alcohol at nonprofit fundraisers on district property would change longstanding policy and could affect liability exposures, insurance premiums and district precedent for other nonprofit partners that operate on school property.
What’s next: Staff said they would obtain the attorney’s written opinion, return a draft lease amendment (including any risk‑management language), and provide estimated liability insurance costs and required city MOU terms for board consideration at a future meeting.
