BOE tables facility-use fee issue until next year

The Millstone Township Board of Education has decided to table the implementation of a new facilities-use policy until at least January.

This summer the board decided that the use of school district facilities for non-schoolrelated purposes should not be a cost to the district, since absorbing such costs dilutes needed financing for educational programs and further risks impact on adequacy ratings, which could translate into loss of additional state aid.

As a result, the school district created a facility-use priority list and proposed hourly fees for certain groups that use the facilities when the schools are not normally open or when they require specific staff. The fees for users with ties to the school district or township would be $10 per hour for the cafeteria, $25 per hour for the cafeteria and kitchen, $7.50 per hour for the computer lab, $11 per hour for the gym, $7.50 per hour for classrooms, and $10 per hour for the media center/ music room. These users would also have to pay special access fees of $50, custodial fees of $26, and change fees of $20.

Non-school-district groups and organizations would pay higher hourly fees, which would be $35 per hour for the cafeteria, $75 per hour for the cafeteria and kitchen, $25 per hour for the computer lab, $35 per hour for the gym, $20 per hour for classrooms, and $35 per hour for the media center/music room. These users would also have to pay the special access, custodial and change fees.

Residents voiced concerns about the school district's proposed revisions at the last three Board of Education meetings. The board has taken the concerns into consideration and sent representatives to meet with Mayor Nancy Grbelja and Deputy Mayor Robert Kinsey to discuss its proposal to increase fees for facility use, according to Superintendent of Schools Mary Donahue.

At the last board meeting on Aug. 25, the board decided to table the implementation of a new facilities use policy while it conducts additional research on the cost impact to the school district for evening and weekend use of its facilities by outside groups.

During the meeting, the board also discussed "resting" the Millstone Township Elementary School during the 2008-09 school year.

"This would mean that the elementary school would not be used by outside groups in the evenings or on the weekends," Donahue said.

The board has directed Donahue to gather information on the impact of "resting" the elementary school.

"I am in the process of doing so and will present my findings to the Board of Education at the next meeting," Donahue said.

The next board meeting will take place 8 p.m. Sept. 8 in the Millstone Township Middle School library.

Donahue said, "I am confident that the full board will continue their discussions regarding the district's cost for facility use in the evenings and on the weekends. However, I have no indication from the board that revisions to the present facility-use policy will be adopted by the Board of Education in September."

Contact Jennifer Kohlhepp at examiner@gmnews.com.