PTG leaders say facility and custodial fees cut into school fundraising; board asks staff for options

Parent-teacher group (PTG) leaders told trustees that facility-use fees and custodial charges reduce funds raised for classroom supplies and essential equipment. "Charging parent teacher groups for facility use feels counterproductive," said Alex De Leon, PTG president at Robert Semple, after describing a recent harvest-festival fundraiser and a $2,350 laminator purchase that was reduced by $450 in facility-use fees. Brianne Marshall, speaking for Joe Henderson PTG, said an $800 custodial fee for a Saturday event was charged to the group's account and reduced funds intended for students.

Superintendent Matthew Calabresi said the district's authority to set facility fees comes from the Civic Center Act and Education Code and presented the district's current rate table. He said the district charges nonprofits a reduced rate, and PTGs are not assessed the general facility rate but are charged custodial fees of $50 per hour per custodian for work outside regular hours. Calabresi explained that custodial wages in the district range from about $22.50 to $29 per hour and that the $50 figure includes fringe and worker's-comp costs, but acknowledged the community's concern about the impact on PTG fundraising.

Calabresi presented a January—October 2025 summary showing $84,521 in facility-related fees collected from 473 events (campus supervisors, custodial fees, chairs/tables, energy and facility charges) and a stadium cost summary that included one-time and recurring items (solar cleaning, paint sprayer, PG&E and water costs). Board members asked for a more detailed, itemized cost breakdown that would separate routine wear-and-tear and school-day costs from event-driven costs, and requested options that would reduce or cap PTG exposure to custodial charges. Trustees proposed exploring joint-use agreements, in-kind arrangements, site-level event caps, and possible offsets elsewhere in the fee schedule.

The superintendent agreed to return with options, including: (1) a more detailed custodial and utility cost breakdown, (2) possible joint-use or memorandum-of-understanding templates for community organizations and PTGs, (3) scenarios for capping event charges for PTGs (for example one weekend event per year per school), and (4) fiscal options to offset district costs if the board chooses to waive or reduce PTG fees. He also said he would provide a Friday update to the board before returning with specific proposals at a future meeting.

No policy change was adopted at the meeting; trustees directed staff to bring back analysis and options for board consideration.