Richland 2 public commenter asks board to clarify facility-fee policy for youth nonprofits

At the Feb. 10 Richland School District 2 board meeting, Ever Collier, a Richland County resident and chief nursing officer at Cooperative Health, asked trustees to clarify how the district applies Policy KF (community use of school facilities) so nonprofit youth organizations are not priced out of access to tracks and fields.

"We are not asking for a handout. We are asking for a partnership," Collier said, describing Team Blaze, a youth track club whose participants include her children. She told the board her club has worked with district policies but has faced inconsistent application of fees and access and asked for "clarity and consistency in how these policy provisions are interpreted and applied." Collier emphasized that these organizations seek collaboration that benefits both the district and students.

Chair remarks earlier in the meeting reminded speakers that Policy BEDH prohibits defamatory or abusive public comments and that specific student or personnel complaints should be handled through established procedures. Trustees did not take action on Collier's request during the Feb. 10 meeting but the board routinely directs administration to follow up on public-participation requests; Collier asked the board to work with "the district's executive leadership to provide clarity and consistency" on how fee waivers or reductions are applied for nonprofits serving district students.

The district administration referenced Policy KF during other agenda items; unclear cases of fee waivers or reduced rates were discussed in broader context of community partnerships during the meeting. The board did not specify timelines or next steps for a response on Feb. 10.