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Board committee approves new facility-use categories and fee structure to expand community access
Summary
The policy review committee approved a reworked facility-use policy (707) and fee guideline (707AG1) that reorganize user categories into four groups, change field assignment pricing to a per-hour model (removing block discounts), and take effect for the next school year. Committee asked staff to notify stakeholders so organizations can plan for
The West Chester Area School District policy review committee approved changes to the district’s facility-use policy and an associated fee guideline on April 22 that reorganize how the district classifies users and charges for space and field use.
Staff described a four-category model in policy 707: district-sponsored events; boosters/PTO (local school-support groups); nonprofits (with a split between organizations that are 60% West Chester residents and those from outside the district); and for-profit users. The administrative guideline, 707AG1, introduces a revised fee structure that eliminates the previous multi‑hour discounted tiers for field rentals and instead charges by the hour. Staff said the change was designed to reduce large organizations from blocking long blocks of time and to increase access for smaller, local groups.
Wayne (facilities staff) told the committee the new fee guidelines will be effective next school year and agreed to distribute the fee schedule to stakeholders to aid planning and budgeting. Committee members praised the stakeholder engagement used to create the guideline; one member thanked Wayne for time spent with facility staff and external stakeholders.
The committee approved the policy and administrative guideline in roll-call votes recorded during the meeting.
Why it matters: The fee-structure change alters how community groups budget for field and facility use. Eliminating long-block discounted tiers could reduce capacity hoarding by large organizations and increase availability to smaller groups, but it may also raise costs for groups that previously relied on block discounts.
Speakers (from transcript): - Wayne (staff member, facilities) — presented structure and timing details for 707 and 707AG1. - Director (committee members) — thanked staff for stakeholder outreach and supported the change.
Actions: - motion: "Approve policy 707 (facility use)" — outcome: approved; tally announced on record. - motion: "Approve administrative guideline 707AG1 (fee structure)" — outcome: approved; tally announced on record.
Clarifying details captured from the meeting: - Effective date: staff said changes would take effect in September of the next school year to allow stakeholders time to plan. - Fee design: removed tiered multi‑hour discounts for field assignments and moved to per-hour charge to improve equitable access.
Searchable tags: ["facility use","fees","field rentals","West Chester Area SD","community use"]
Provenance: facility-use discussion began within the committee’s section 700 policy review and included staff presentation and committee roll-call votes; transcript contains multiple references to the rework and stakeholder engagement.
Ending: Committee approval forwards the revised policy and AG to the full board process; staff said they will notify community stakeholders and publish the new fee schedule ahead of the 2025–26 school year.
