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Board approves three‑year field‑use agreement with youth baseball group after scheduling, insurance questions
Summary
The board approved a multiyear agreement allowing Waterloo youth baseball to use district baseball and softball fields, with conditions on equipment use, maintenance, insurance and school scheduling priority; members pressed for better communication with youth leagues and coaches.
The Waterloo Board of Education voted to approve a three‑year facilities‑use agreement with the Waterloo Baseball Softball Association (WBBSA) that will allow the community group to schedule games and practices on underused district baseball and softball fields beginning with the 2025–26 season, subject to terms in the contract.
Board members stressed that school activities retain scheduling priority and that any external group must provide proof of insurance, pay for lime/paint and fuel when using district equipment, and assume responsibility for damage. The president argued the community should be able to use the facilities paid for by local taxpayers: "my my my 2¢ is the community pays for the baseball field, pays for the softball field, pays for these facilities." Several board members and the superintendent also pressed for clearer communication between youth league leaders and school coaches after a coach said he first learned about the agreement "06:30 last night after practice." The motion to approve the agreement passed with a unanimous vote.
Why it matters: the agreement aims to increase community access to school fields during underused periods while preserving school control over scheduling and maintenance. Board members asked that staff (Barb and Carrie) remain the point people to accept or deny building‑use requests and that leagues ensure internal communication so coaches are informed before scheduling games.
