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Skamania County Basketball asks to use Stevenson Elementary gym; board to study costs and labor rules
Summary
Representatives of Skamania County Basketball requested weeknight access to the Stevenson Elementary gym for Dec–Feb practices; the board asked staff to study labor-law constraints, facility costs and access-control options before approving use.
Skamania County Basketball asked the Stevenson-Carson School District Board on Aug. 22 to allow youth practices at Stevenson Elementary School on weeknights from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Garret Stump, speaking for the organization, said the group fielded 14 teams and about 120 children last season and prefers to keep a multi-night practice schedule if the SES gym is available.
Sarah Chambers, the organization’s treasurer, told the board the group would cover cleaning costs and "does not want to be burden to the district, but would like to work with them to come up with a solution to benefit the county’s kids." Board members and staff raised concerns about staffing and labor-law obligations because opening the gym could require work that is a union position. Chair Jeff Wickersham also expressed concern about access control to other parts of the building if the gym is opened to outside users.
The board instructed district staff to consult the district attorney on labor issues, compare leasing versus rental cost models, and evaluate physical access-control options (the board discussed purchasing locking accordion gates) to prevent nonpublic access to school spaces. No formal permission or schedule was approved at the meeting; the board asked staff to return with options that would avoid additional district expense.
