District reports 40,000 hours of facility use; rental policy review underway after audit

North Hills administrators told the board Feb. 6 that district facilities are heavily used outside school hours and that an audit identified several areas needing clearer policies and better management.

Mr. Santucci, presenting the buildings and grounds report, said the district’s facilities are used roughly 40,000 hours annually outside the normal school day, including school athletics; when district teams are excluded, non-district groups logged about 20,000 hours from 153 distinct local groups. “Of the non district group usage, about 14,000 hours, or 70%, is used by youth sports organizations,” Santucci said.

The audit categorized users into tiers: Tier 1 (school-sponsored groups and local civic organizations), Tier 2 (501(c)(3) community and regional groups and unaffiliated youth sports) and Tier 3 (individuals, dance schools and performances). The report flagged practices that raise concerns: some groups reserve space for others and charge fees for events held at district facilities; other organizations hold blanket reservations that prevent broader community access; and some groups have purchased equipment and left it on District property without notifying administration, creating potential loss and liability.

Santucci said the district has invested in outdoor fields and that custodial and supervision needs factor into rental planning. Administration described a desire to design a rental plan that protects community access while addressing the identified problems and keeping costs manageable for boosters and youth organizations. After meeting with user groups, Santucci said the administration is not ready to present a rental-fee proposal to the board and will continue discussions and analysis.

No vote was taken; board members asked clarifying questions about information flow and timing of future proposals.