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North Marion SD 15 considers limited alcohol sales at campus rentals amid fundraising push
Summary
Board members and staff discussed a proposed administrative rule to allow limited alcohol at campus rentals (proposed for a June pro baseball rental). Insurer Rich Davis urged strict vendor, licensing and insurance requirements; one board member argued the change would soften a long-standing district principle against alcohol on campus.
The North Marion SD 15 board on Wednesday discussed a proposed administrative rule that would allow limited, supervised alcohol sales or service at district facility rentals — initially pitched to accommodate a June rental by a local summer professional baseball team.
The district’s insurance agent, Rich Davis, told the board the district should require third-party vendors licensed under OLCC rules, require at least $2,000,000 in general and liquor-liability insurance, and list the district as an additional insured so outside policies would defend and indemnify the district for claims arising from the vendor’s operations. “If you are gonna move forward with it, make sure that you’re gonna do it correct so that you are protecting the organization as best you can,” Davis said.
The superintendent and staff framed the proposal as a narrow, administratively governed exception tied to an application process and a four-hour limit on approved events. Staff said the policy would direct the superintendent to issue application procedures, risk-mitigation rules and vendor requirements rather than expanding routine alcohol use on campus.
The conversation split along values and practical lines. Board member Murrow urged caution, arguing the district’s longstanding policy had deliberately excluded alcohol and other addictive substances from campus and that making an exception would “soften the statement” the board had upheld for decades. “For liability concerns and more personally for conscience sake, I choose not to endorse,” Murrow said.
The chair countered that controlled rentals could enable fundraising opportunities the district has lacked in recent years, noting past auctions had raised tens of thousands of dollars. “I support this … because I think it’s an adult decision and our school needs revenue,” the chair said, adding that the policy could allow one-off events to test the approach before any broader change.
Staff said the policy would return to the board as a draft AR and application for further feedback; no adoption vote was taken Wednesday. The district emphasized the measure would initially be limited in scope, require vendor licensure and insurance, and include staff oversight and application review by the superintendent before an event would be approved.
