North Marion board hears proposals to tighten facility access, badges and facility-use rules

District staff presented a multi-part proposal to improve facility access control and to update facility‑use policy and administrative rules in response to recurring unauthorized access and inconsistent practices.

The superintendent's office told trustees they discovered former students and outside coaches using keys and unsupervised groups practicing in district gyms. "We have a huge access issue into our buildings," the presenter said, and staff recommended rekeying exterior doors and moving toward a badge-only access system. Staff said rekeying could be done largely with internal labor, but it will take staff time and some cost.

Wes reviewed the KG/KGAR ARs and flagged several operational gaps: agreements often do not limit building areas used, proof of liability insurance is inconsistently collected, and custodial staff face unexpected workloads when outside users access unintended spaces. Wes recommended revising AR language, establishing clear fee and insurance enforcement, and developing memoranda of understanding with primary recurring users (for example, the North Marion Youth Athletics) that clarify access, expectations, and any paid staffing to open/close facilities.

Board members discussed balancing community access and taxpayer obligations, the feasibility of charging overtime custodial costs to outside users, and the need for public-facing scheduling tools. Staff will draft updated ARs and work with frequent partners to formalize agreements before bringing the policy to the board for adoption.