Policy 1331 – Classification of Groups Using School District Facilities

Permitted usage and availability of District facilities shall be determined by classification of the group requesting use of the facility. Charges for use of District facilities, including rental and custodial fees, shall vary in accordance with such classification.

The Director of Facilities Services or designee will categorize groups eligible to use District facilities under one of the seven classifications defined below. District facilities shall be made available to eligible groups in the following order, as space and priority allow:

  1. School Activity Groups
  2. Recreation Department Sponsored Groups
  3. School Related Activity Groups
  4. Non-Curriculum Related Student Groups
  5. Kenosha Unified Community Youth Groups
  6. Kenosha Unified Community Groups
  7. For-Profit and Other Groups

Classification of groups using District facilities shall be as follows:

  1. School Activity Groups
    School Activity Groups are those groups that are directly related to a District educational program or extracurricular program sponsored by the District, including academic, athletic, cultural and social group activities (e.g., drama clubs, cheerleading, SADD, FBLA, DECA, etc.).School Activity Groups will be permitted to use District facilities during non-school hours, with the permission of the Building Principal or Director of Facilities Services, and when such use does not interfere with District purposes. The District will waive the rental fee. The actual custodial fee beyond the normal custodial working hours will be charged to the appropriate school account.
  2. Recreation Department Sponsored Groups
    Recreation Department Sponsored Groups are those groups or programs that are directly sponsored and administered by the District’s Recreation Department.Recreation Department Sponsored Groups will be allowed to use District facilities for any lawful purpose that promotes the recreation and physical fitness of the District’s residents and students. (e.g., senior citizens and summer recreation)Recreation Department Sponsored Groups will be permitted to use District facilities during non- school hours with the permission of the Coordinator of Athletics/Physical Education and/or Director of Facilities Services, and when such use does not interfere with District purposes or by School Activity Groups. The District will waive the rental fee. The actual custodial fee beyond the normal custodial working hours will be charged to the Recreation Department.
  3. School Related Activity Groups
    School Related Activity Groups are those groups not under direct sponsorship of the school or District, but related to the schools in that they are organized for the sole purpose of supporting the District’s schools and improving District education (e.g., parent-teacher and parent booster groups).School Related Activity Groups will be permitted to use District facilities during non-school hours with the permission of the Building Principal and/or Director of Facilities Services, and when such use does not interfere with District purposes, or use by School Activity Groups or Recreation Department Sponsored Groups. The District will waive the rental fee. The actual custodial cost beyond the regular custodial working hours will be charged to the School Related Activity Group.
  4. Non-Curriculum Related Student Groups
    Non-Curriculum Related Student Groups have the following characteristics:

      1. The group is comprised of District students.
      2. The subject matter of the group is not actually taught, or will not soon be taught, as a regularly offered course of the school.
      3. The subject matter of the group does not concern the body of courses as a whole.
      4. Participation in the group is not required for a particular course.
      5. Participation in the group does not result in academic credit.
      6. Group meetings are not directed, controlled, conducted or regularly attended by non-school persons.

    Non-Curriculum Related Student Groups will be given equal access and priority to District facilities. The District will not deny equal access or a fair opportunity to, or discriminate against, any Non-Curriculum-Related Student Group who wishes to conduct a meeting on the basis of the religious, political, philosophical, or other content of the speech at such meetings.

    Non-Curriculum Related Student Groups may not be sponsored by the school, the District, or their agents or employees. Meetings of Non-Curriculum Related Student Groups must be student-initiated and voluntary.

    Non-Curriculum Related Student Groups will be permitted to use District facilities for any purpose that does not materially and substantially interfere with the orderly conduct of educational activities within the school. The District retains the right to deny access to District facilities to maintain order and discipline on school premises, to protect the wellbeing of District students and faculty, and to assure that attendance of students at meetings is voluntary.

    Non-Curriculum Related Student Groups will be permitted to use District facilities during non-school hours with the permission of the Building Principal and/or Director of Facilities Services, and when such use does not interfere with District purposes, or by School Activity Groups, Recreation Department Sponsored Groups or School Related Activity Groups. The District will waive the rental fee. The actual custodial cost beyond the normal custodial working hours will be charged to the Non-Curriculum Related Student Groups

  5. Kenosha Unified Community Youth Groups
    A Kenosha Unified Community Youth Group is a non-profit group or organization whose primary purpose is to serve children and youth of the Kenosha Unified School District (e.g., Scouts and youth sports). The focus of the use of District facilities must be to provide a program that actively involves young people who reside within the boundaries of the District.The Kenosha Unified Community Youth Groups will be permitted to use District facilities during non-school hours with the permission of the Building Principal and/or Director of Facilities Services, and when such use does not interfere with District purposes, or by School Activity Groups, Recreation Department Sponsored Groups, School Related Activity Groups or Non-Curriculum Related Student Groups. Rental fees may or may not be waived based on the nature of the organization:

    • Groups where organizers, coaches, leaders, or other individuals associated with the group are not compensated for their volunteer work will have fees waived by the District. This includes, but is not limited to, Scouts and recreational sports programs, such as the Boys & Girls Club recreational teams.
    • Groups where organizers, coaches, leaders, or other individuals associated with the group are compensated in some financial manner for their services, will be charged the partial rental fee rate. This includes, but is not limited to, club sports teams and travel teams.

    The actual custodial fee beyond the normal custodial working hours will be charged to the Kenosha Unified Community Youth Groups.

  6. Kenosha Unified Community Groups
    Kenosha Unified Community Groups are nonprofit groups that intend to use District facilities for a lawful non-school purpose primarily for adults.

    To qualify as a Kenosha Unified Community Group, at least 51% of the owners or members of the group or at least 51% of its attendees during use of District facilities must be residents of Kenosha Unified attendance area. Certified lists of members, owners, or attendees, with addresses, may be requested when applying for use of District facilities.

    Kenosha Unified Community Groups may use District facilities during non-school hours with the permission of the Building Principal and/or Director of Facilities Services and when such use does not interfere with District purposes or by School Activity Groups, Recreation Department Sponsored Groups, School Related Activity Groups, Non-Curriculum Related Student Groups or Kenosha Unified Community Youth Groups.

    Kenosha Unified Community Groups will be charged rent for the use of facilities and actual custodial fee beyond the normal custodial working hours.

  7. For-Profit and Other Groups
    For-Profit and Other Groups are groups, organizations or individual(s) that intend to use District facilities for a lawful non-school purpose and do not fall within any of the other classifications stated herein.

    To qualify as a For-Profit and Other Group, at least 51% of the owners or members of the group or at least 51% of its attendees during use of District facilities must be residents of Kenosha Unified attendance area. Certified lists of members, owners, or attendees, with addresses, may be requested when applying for use of District facilities.

For-Profit and Other Groups may use District facilities during non-school hours with the permission of the Building Principal and/or Director of Facilities Services and when such use does not interfere with District purposes, or by School Activity Groups, Recreation Department Sponsored Groups, School Related Activity Groups, Non-Curriculum Related Student Groups, Kenosha Unified Community Youth Groups or Kenosha Unified Community Groups. For-Profit and Other Groups will be charged rent for use of facilities and actual custodial fee beyond the normal custodial working hours.

Nothing in this policy or any other District policy is intended to prohibit or affect the use of District facilities for free discussions of public questions upon the written application of one-half of the District’s electors pursuant to state law.

LEGAL REF.:

  • Wisconsin Statutes
    • Sections 120.12(1) [Board duty; care, control and management of school property]
    • 120.12(9) [Board duty; use for discussion of public questions]
    • 120.125 [Use for before and after-school child care programs]
    • 120.13(17) [Board power; temporary use of school property and authority to charge use fees]
    • 120.13(19) [Board power; use for community education programs]
    • 120.13(21) [Board power; use for educational lectures]
    • 120.13(35) [Board power; presence of persons in school buildings]
  • Wisconsin Administrative Code
  • HSS 172.05 [Swimming pool staffing rules]
  • Equal Access Act [Access to school facilities by non-curriculum-related student groups]
  • Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act [Access to school facilities by Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups]

CROSS REF.:

  • 1310, Tobacco Use on School Premises
  • 1330, Facilities Use
  • 1333, Charges for Use of District Facilities & Grounds
  • 1812, Relations with Parent-Teacher Organizations
  • 5436, Weapons
  • 6570, Before and/or After School Child Care Programs

ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATIONS: None

AFFIRMED: December 28, 1990

REVISED:

  • May 28, 1991
  • May 27, 2003
  • December 18, 2012
  • February 28, 2017
  • June 25, 2019