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Region 15 board approves new facility use fee schedule with amendment for local nonprofits
Summary
Board approved a consolidated facility‑use fee schedule and added an amendment that not‑for‑profit groups with at least 80% Region 15 participants keep local pricing; custodial rates remain separate and the board asked administration to codify usage priorities in policy.
The Region 15 Board of Education voted to adopt a revised facility use fee schedule and approved a late amendment clarifying treatment of local not‑for‑profit organizations.
The finance committee presented a proposal that consolidated the district’s previous Group A–E categories into three groups and projected revenue under the new schedule at roughly $16,000–$17,000 (compared with about $10,000 under the prior schedule). The committee noted that custodial/hourly rates are handled separately and are scheduled for review later in the budget cycle.
During discussion board members asked that the district formalize priority rules (for example, giving schools and municipal park & rec priority over outside groups) in policy language rather than leaving such rules only in administrative practice. The board also discussed a possible future discounted rate for organizations who are not physically based in the towns but serve a large percentage of Region 15 children.
An amendment to the proposed schedule was moved by Tom Marks and seconded by Heather Dwyer to place not‑for‑profit groups that have fewer than 80% of participants who are Middlebury or Southbury residents into a different (higher) fee category. The amendment passed on roll call and was incorporated into the motion.
Final motion (as amended): approve the facility use fee schedule as presented, with the added clarification that not‑for‑profit groups that have fewer than 80% of participants from Middlebury and Southbury be placed in the nonlocal fee group.
Vote (roll call): Sally Romano — aye; Shannon Cavallo — aye; Heather Dwyer — aye; Janice Bell — aye; Tom Marks — aye; Mary Manzo — aye; Heather Rogers — aye; Steve Sarani — aye; Jeff Olson — aye. The motion carried.
The board asked the administration to return policy language that will explicitly list priority ordering for facility use (school uses first, then municipal park & recreation, then not‑for‑profit groups) and indicated custodial charges and invoicing remain separate items to be considered in the budget process.
Speakers quoted or summarized in this article are taken from the meeting transcript and public board discussion recorded during the action.
