Detroit schools move to simplify community-use fees, staff say costs cover custodial, security and engineers
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Summary
The Detroit Public Schools Community District committee reviewed an amendment to its community-use policy to streamline fees across K–12, tie labor fees to annual market rates, and clarify exceptions for Detroit School of the Arts; board members pressed staff on where fees go and rules for outdoor field rentals.
The Detroit Public Schools Community District policy committee reviewed proposed amendments to the district's community-use policy meant to simplify fees and make labor charges adaptable to market rates.
Dr. Beatty, who presented the changes, said the revision consolidates separate K–12 fee schedules to remove partner confusion and “streamlines the fees and process for K–12” rather than maintaining different charges for small and large schools. He added the policy names “an annual change to the labor fee in adjustment to what the city rate is,” so labor charges — for cleaning and security — can be updated each year.
Board members sought clarity on where rental revenues flow. A board member asked, “Does that money go to BSA? Does it go to a different phone?” Dr. Beatty responded that fees primarily cover labor costs — cleaning, security and engineers — and that “we really don't make much of a profit at all.” He said the district will retain a small amount for building operations, while Detroit School of the Arts (DSA) is an explicit exception: because of high auditorium use, “there is a bit of dollars that go back into the school” for upgrades.
Facilities staff outlined the main cost drivers. Mr. Badino said the largest expense is building engineers required to operate HVAC in summer and boilers in winter, and that engineers are a city requirement when a building is operating. Dr. Beatty and staff described overtime custodial work and security (guards or police) as other major costs.
Board members also raised procedural concerns about the approval process. Dr. Beatty described the workflow: community-use requests start in the community-use office, route to the building principal for approval, then return to central staff; he said principals approve most requests and that he personally approves about 90% the same day. On outdoor field rentals, staff said engineers often must unlock fenced fields and open building access — including bathrooms — and that partners may be reimbursed if promised access is not provided.
The committee did not revise the policy at the meeting but moved the item forward for a first reading at the full board meeting and voted to advance the bundle of items on the agenda. Dr. Beatty committed to follow up in writing on specific questions about bathroom access and to provide details about how many records have been digitized as staff continue work on warehouse records.
The policy discussion emphasized minimizing profit from community rentals and clarifying operational details for renters; the DSA exception remains in place to allow that school to retain modest auditorium revenue for maintenance and upgrades.
The committee advanced the policy for a first reading at the board meeting.