Ansonia board begins drafting building-use policy to manage rentals and prioritize youth

The Ansonia Board of Education opened a discussion Oct. 27 about creating a formal Building Use Policy to govern how community groups use school buildings and fields.

Board President Rich Bshara said the policy would not necessarily be decided that night but should provide consistent procedures for rentals. “I think the Board needs to create a Building Use Policy,” he said, citing a long-running night volleyball league at the Middle School as an example of recurring outside use that raises concerns about insurance, adult supervision and potential damage.

Bshara said the board should give priority to Ansonia youth programs and residents and consider charging higher fees for nonresidents to cover custodial and security costs. He also raised questions about whether the Ansonia Recreation Committee could assume responsibility for Board of Education fields and said such a transfer would likely require Board authorization.

Superintendent DiBacco described the process the district currently uses for building rentals and agreed that formal rules would help. “It will be great to be able to allow anyone the opportunity, but rules need to be put in place,” he said. District staff and board members discussed who would perform field maintenance, how to account for wear-and-tear, and which groups should receive scheduling priority.

A meeting participant, Bob Evans, suggested requiring a security officer whenever outside groups use district buildings. The board did not vote on any specific fees, security protocols, or a transfer of field management at the meeting; members directed staff to continue developing procedures and to bring a draft policy back for further consideration.

The board adjourned at 7:02 p.m.