Board debates facility-use fee policy as booster-club fundraising apps draw donor complaints

Board members on Monday spent an extended portion of the meeting examining how independent booster organizations use third-party fundraising apps and whether the district should waive facility-use fees for those groups.

Several community members and trustees described donors receiving text solicitations through apps that appear to take a sizable portion of donations; one board member said some residents reported the platform charging about 30% in fees. Administrators stressed that the booster groups are independent organizations, not district programs, and said the district has no control over third-party processing fees.

The board and staff discussed three practical concerns: donor confusion (some residents think the district is soliciting or endorsing the fundraisers), whether groups are using the district name or logo, and precedent-setting if the district waives fees for some groups but not others. Administrators reminded the board that many organizations that use district facilities already provide certificates of insurance and that outside groups historically pay for inside use because of custodial, maintenance and utilities costs.

Staff recommended adopting a consistent approach for similar community groups, placing independent booster or travel teams into the district—ategory 2 fee schedule (a nonprofit/community rate that administrators said typically amounts to about $8— per hour depending on the hours used) rather than waiving fees. Board members signaled support for treating similar groups the same and asked staff to revise the facility-use form and the waiver language so the issues can be decided when the consent agenda comes up Wednesday.

No formal vote was recorded during the meeting; administrators said any change to fee policy or the facility-use form would be placed on a future agenda with a recommended motion and written fee schedule.