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Activities committee seeks clearer rules on facility fees for booster fundraisers and for‑profit camps
Summary
Committee members agreed to clarify the district27s facility-fee policy: school-affiliated booster events that directly benefit programs and are staffed by volunteers generally will not be charged rental fees, while for-profit vendors charging families will be assessed rental and service fees (custodial assigned by Tom Cavage).
The Southern Columbia Area School District activities committee discussed and agreed to tighten language in its facility-fee usage schedule to make clear when custodial and service fees apply and when school-affiliated groups are exempt.
Steve, speaking to the committee, described recent examples that prompted the review: a booster-run fundraiser using two gymnasiums and a youth camp staffed by coaches and volunteers. "I personally don't think they should be charged a rental fee because it was all coaches and volunteers coming to do this for their program to raise money," Steve said, arguing that events whose proceeds directly support district teams or boosters should not be treated as commercial rentals. He added that custodial charges should be applied when events require weekend cleaning or other services.
Committee members distinguished three cases: (1) school- or club-run activities that benefit district programs (no base rental fee; custodial/service fees may apply), (2) outside community leagues (e.g., Southern Columbia little league) that are not school-affiliated (pay fees), and (3) for-profit vendors running camps or clinics where families pay the vendor — those outside, for-profit providers will be charged rental/service fees. The committee agreed that custodial assignments and any required event staffing will be determined by Tom Cavage when approvals are issued.
The group also agreed to add explicit language to the request form and approval notice explaining that the district will charge for event services (custodial, line painting, field prep, and any assigned staff) even if the base facility rental is waived for a school-affiliated booster event. The committee discussed requiring deposits or barring repeat users who fail to settle post-event bills.
Next steps: staff will add clarifying language to the facility request form and include an "additional notes" line explaining the distinctions the committee approved; approvals will record any assigned custodial or event-staff charges.
