POLICY 2-3.2 RELATIONS WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS

Consistent with all applicable law, the Montgomery County Public Schools shall cooperate with all non-profit and non-partisan agencies such as the departments of social services, parks and recreation, health, safety, fire, civil defense, and law enforcement in promoting the general public interest and the educational welfare of the students.

Disaster Agencies

The School Board shall cooperate fully with all relevant agencies in the time of local, state or national emergencies consistent with School Board Policy 4-2.2 and individual school crisis management plans. The division superintendent shall open the schools of the district as needed in times of emergency and shall cooperate fully with directors of agencies regarding the use of the schools and their equipment.

Parks and Recreation Departments

The School Board intends that there be the fullest cooperation to permit the maximum use of school athletic and recreational facilities and the school auditorium by the schools, the recreation departments and the residents of Montgomery County consistent with School Board Policy 2-4.1

During the school year, official school programs shall be given priority. However, such programs shall be scheduled, as much as possible and without detriment to them, to permit use of school facilities by the parks and recreation departments and citizens generally. During the summer, recreation programs shall be given priority. At all times, the facilities shall be used so as to preserve and to maintain them in proper condition. To accomplish this purpose, the principals of the schools will work with the recreational directors. Policy differences and problems, if any, will be referred to the division superintendent or his/her designee.

The operation and maintenance of school facilities is primarily the responsibility of the school principals. Nonetheless, the parks and recreation departments shall provide adequate supervision and will assume full responsibility for facilities during the periods of their use by the parks and recreation departments. The parks and recreation departments and the School Board will perform maintenance of the grounds, with costs allocated among their respective budgets, reasonably reflective of the amount of use and wear and tear attributable to each organization.

The parks and recreation departments normally shall not be charged usage fees as set forth in School Board Policy. However, the departments are responsible for the appropriate use of such facilities and may be charged a fee for inappropriate usage. The parks and recreation departments will be responsible for providing appropriate supervision for all of its programs and activities and will be responsible for cleaning facilities after such use.

The parks and recreation departments and the School Board administration acting cooperatively shall adopt specific guidelines governing the use of athletic and recreation facilities from time-to-time. There shall be full consultation prior to the adoption of any policy, proposed capital improvements, or any other action by the parks and recreation departments, which may materially affect such facilities or their use.

Nothing in this policy shall diminish in any manner the respective legal responsibilities of the School Board and the parks and recreation departments.

LEGAL REFERENCE: Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, §§ 22.1-70, 22.1-78, 22.1-209, 22.1-130.1, 22.1-253.13:7.

Adopted: April 2004