Community Relations: Nonschool Use of School Facilities
View interactive version → PolicyConnect →
Local Changes (3)
This update to GKD (Local) substantially rewrites the Nonschool Use of School Facilities policy by replacing the prior framework with a comprehensive new structure that introduces formal definitions (District Facility, Facility User, Campus-Affiliated Facility User, Employee Facility User, Student Activity User), expanded scheduling priority provisions, detailed facility use requirements (18 numbered items), revised fee and complimentary-use rules, liability and insurance requirements, an appeals process, and an implementation deadline of December 31, 2026. The prior policy language covering approval of use, release of liability, private lessons/clinics/summer athletic leagues, special provisions, usage fees, complimentary/reduced/waived fees, required conduct, and applicability is entirely removed and replaced.
Added
- Definitions section header and all definitions: District Facility: Any District or campus facility, building, land, property, parking lot, parking space, or other District resource, or any portion thereof, designated by the Superintendent or designee as available for use by Facility Users under this Board Policy.
- Facility User: Any non-District individual or entity approved to use a District Facility that is not part of an official District or campus-sponsored event, including Campus-Affiliated Facility Users, Employee Facility Users, and Student Activity Users.
- Campus-Affiliated Facility User: An organization composed of parents, teachers, employees, and/or community members formed to support District or campus programs or activities, including PTA/PTO organizations, booster clubs, Board committees, employee organizations, and any other organization designated by the Board.
- Employee Facility User: A full-time exempt District employee, or an entity owned or operated by one or more full-time exempt employees using District Facilities during non-employment hours, and after completing all required District employee commitments and obligations for any activities consistent with a Student Activity User. This term does not include daycare providers, childcare programs, or similar custodial care services.
- Student Activity User: A person or entity providing programs, opportunities, or experiences for students residing in the District for purposes of engagement, development, enrichment, or participation. This includes, but is not limited to, extracurricular, co-curricular, and enrichment activities; tutoring; private lessons; academic, fine arts, athletic, and career and technical programs; and related clubs, organizations, camps, teams, performances, and events.
- Scheduling Priorities section: Subject to District and campus needs, the District shall give scheduling priority to Campus-Affiliated Facility Users, Employee Facility Users, and Student Activity Users over other Facility Users.
- The District will make facilities available for reservation as far in advance as reasonably practicable, consistent with District and campus schedules and operational needs. Reasonable efforts will be made by the District to ensure an event occurs as scheduled or at an appropriate alternate location.
- Facility Use section: The District shall permit Facility Users to use District Facilities only for appropriate educational, recreational, civic, social, or religious activities that do not conflict with state or federal law, or Board Policies, including Board Policy EMB (Local), and District procedures.
- The District reserves the right to deny or cancel any use in accordance with this Board Policy for any lawful reason.
- The District may, at its sole discretion, decline to designate any District Facility as available for use under this Board Policy for any period of time.
- The District shall maintain a publicly accessible website or comparable electronic platform that includes all relevant Board Policies and District procedures, all Board-approved fee schedules, and the applications for District Facility use.
- The District shall provide an electronic system through which District full-time exempt employees may offer to serve as staff to monitor and support Facility Users. The District may require such District full-time exempt employees to complete training and meet additional qualifications.
- The District shall not approve any use that is likely to result in damage beyond ordinary wear and tear, or by any Facility User with a documented history of damaging District Facilities or violating state or federal law or procedure, Board Policy, or District procedure.
- Damages to District Facilities, Failure to Pay, Refusal of Facility Use section: Except for Campus-Affiliated Facility Users and other entities designated by the Board, Superintendent or designee, Facility Users are responsible for all damages incurred during use, excluding ordinary wear and tear. The District will determine the extent of any damage and the associated repair costs in its sole discretion, and Facility Users must pay such costs promptly.
- Additionally, the District will also refuse District Facility use to any Facility User that refuses to pay for damages or any prior unauthorized use under Facility Use Requirements.
- Release of Liability section: Except for Campus-Affiliated Facility Users and other entities designated by the Board, Superintendent or designee, all Facility Users must release and hold the District harmless from any liability for injury, damage to persons or property, or any other claims arising from District Facility use.
- Except for Campus-Affiliated Facility Users and other entities designated by the Board, Superintendent or designee, the District will establish required liability insurance coverage amounts, which may vary depending on the nature of the facility use and other relevant factors.
- Except for Campus-Affiliated Facility Users and other entities designated by the Board, all Facility Users must provide proof of the required insurance coverage before receiving approval to use District Facilities, if allowed by law.
- Facility Use Requirements section: Unless waived by the Superintendent or designee, or otherwise provided in this Board Policy, the following provisions shall apply to all Facility Users and shall be incorporated into District procedures governing the use of District Facilities:
- 1. Facility Users must complete the application process, satisfy all applicable requirements, and obtain explicit District approval before using any District Facility.
- 2. The District may cancel any District Facility use at any time without any liability for any lawful reason.
- 3. The District may refuse facility use on any day at its discretion.
- 4. Facility Users must execute a Release of Liability in a manner consistent with this Board Policy.
- 5. Facility Users shall be required to pay all required fees for District Facility use in advance of the scheduled use.
- 6. Notwithstanding any Board adopted and published fee schedule, the District may assess additional charges for staff, security, District Facility restoration or health and safety needs, as determined in its sole discretion, and such costs shall be borne by the Facility User. The District may assess additional fees for large-scale, special, unusual, or exclusive-use events to reflect the District's costs and ensure cost recovery.
- 7. The District may conduct background checks of Facility Users and may deny use based on the results.
- 8. Facility Users must conduct all activities in an orderly manner and comply with all applicable laws, regulations, Board Policies, District procedures, and the Student Code of Conduct provisions related to health and safety, including prohibitions on alcohol, illegal drugs, weapons, and tobacco on District property.
- 9. Facility Users shall not use District resources or equipment without prior written approval. The District may assess additional fees for unauthorized use, and the Facility User shall promptly pay.
- 10. Facility Users shall not make any alterations, temporary or permanent, without prior written approval. The District may assess additional fees for unauthorized alterations, and the Facility User shall promptly pay them.
- 11. Facility Users must review and agree to comply with this Board Policy, Board Policy EMB (Local), and all applicable Board Policies, District procedures, guidelines, and rental terms as a condition of approval.
- 12. The District may require Facility Users to complete training prior to using the facility.
- 13. Facility Users must ensure that participants remain within designated and authorized areas at all times. The District may assess additional fees for unauthorized use, and the Facility User shall promptly pay.
- 14. Facility Users shall not exceed approved occupancy limits or authorized time periods. The District may assess additional fees for unauthorized use, including overcapacity or extended use beyond the time allotted, and the Facility User shall promptly pay.
- 15. Facility Users shall not assign, sublease, or otherwise permit use of District facilities by any unapproved third party without District permission.
- 16. Facility Users shall promptly pay for any damages or unauthorized use determined by the District.
- 17. All Facility Users shall comply with the relevant provisions of the School Board Policy FFG (Legal) and FFG (Local) and take measures to protect individuals from abuse or misconduct, including maintaining appropriate supervision and avoiding, where appropriate, one-on-one contact between adults and minors in inappropriately concealed or locked areas. Facility Users shall help with investigations of abuse or misconduct and comply with all mandatory reporting requirements.
- 18. The District may at any time and for any reason permanently or temporarily revoke a Facility User's District Facility use without liability for violating this Board Policy or District procedure.
- Facility Use Fees section: The District will not approve any District Facility for use unless the Board has adopted a fee schedule for that District Facility.
- Facility Users may be charged fees sufficient to recover the District's direct and indirect costs associated with facility use, including, but not limited to, minimum rental periods, operations, supervision, opening and closing, cleaning, staffing, overhead, ordinary wear and tear, equipment and room restoration, rubbish removal, and other related costs.
- The District may develop, and the Board may adopt and publish, one or more fee schedules consistent with this Board Policy. Fee schedules may vary based on relevant, nondiscriminatory factors, including the type of Facility User, the nature, timing, and duration of use, the facility involved, whether use occurs during or outside regular business hours, nonprofit status, and similar considerations. Similarly situated Facility Users shall be charged the same or comparable fees.
- Except as otherwise provided in this Board Policy, Facility Users shall be charged in accordance with the applicable Board-approved fee schedule.
- Except as expressly authorized by this Board Policy, only the Board may waive or modify published fees by formal Board action.
- Complimentary or Reduced Fees section: Subject to provisions in this Board Policy, Campus-Affiliated Facility Users shall be granted complimentary use of District Facilities, subject to District and campus availability, reasonableness and practicality of the request, and scheduling priorities. The District may refuse use by any Campus-Affiliated Facility Users for any reason.
- The District may develop, and the Board may adopt and publish, complimentary or reduced fee schedules for Employee Facility Users or Student Activity Users. Any such discounts must be consistent with the District's cost-recovery objectives and may not result in an excessive loss of District funds.
- Fees shall not be charged for use of District Facilities for public meetings sponsored by state or local governmental agencies or as otherwise required by law.
- The District may designate any District Facilities, times, or uses as ineligible for complimentary or reduced fees.
- The District shall estimate annually the cost to the District of complimentary or reduced fees.
- Emergencies Or Disasters section: The Superintendent or designee may authorize use of District Facilities by civil defense officials or other organizations in response to emergencies or disasters and may waive provisions of this Board Policy as appropriate. The Superintendent shall inform the Board of any such use and waiver as soon as practicable.
- Appeals section: Appeals of decisions under this Board Policy may be made in accordance with the District's grievance processes.
- Implementation section: The District shall adopt District Procedures to enact this Board Policy. The District shall fully transition and comply with this Board Policy by December 31, 2026, including presenting fee schedules for Board approval.
Removed
- The District shall permit nonschool use of designated District facilities for educational, recreational, civic, or social activities when these activities do not conflict with school use or this policy. (old opening provision)
- Scheduling Priorities (old section): The campus principal and/or the District facilities manager shall have authority to cancel a scheduled nonschool use if conflict arises with a District activity.
- Approval Of Use section: An individual or organization desiring use of a District building or facility shall obtain and complete a written building use application and submit it to the campus principal.
- The campus principal or other appropriate administrator shall review the application and determine whether the requested building or facility is available for use. If the building or facility is available, the principal or administrator shall note the availability on the application and shall forward the application to the District facilities manager, who shall determine if the proposed use is consistent with District policy. Upon approval by the District facilities manager, arrangements for the collection of fees, scheduling of personnel, verification of insurance, and compliance with all other administrative requirements shall be made.
- Building use applications may be obtained from the District facilities manager or online through the District's website.
- Release Of Liability (old section): In applying for use of a District building or facility, an organization or individual shall agree to release the District from liability for personal injury and/or damages to personal property. Any group using a District building or facility shall be responsible for the cost of damages incurred during use. Damages and the cost associated with repairs shall be determined solely by the District and borne by the user.
- Approval shall not be granted for any purpose that would damage school property or to groups that are known to have damaged other rented property.
- [See CNB regarding nonschool use of District vehicles and FNAB regarding student group use of school facilities]
- Private Lessons, Clinics, And Summer Athletic Leagues section: Private lessons, clinics, and summer athletic leagues serve an important school purpose because they enable students to be more proficient; therefore, a separate fee schedule for these activities shall be established by the Board. Criminal history checks shall be required of all persons providing individualized instruction. The fine arts department or the athletic department shall be responsible for obtaining and monitoring these criminal history checks.
- Special Provisions section: The following shall apply:
- 1. All rental agreements shall be reviewed annually.
- 2. The District reserves the right to cancel a rental agreement at any time use would interfere with school activities or when the wear and tear to the building or facility becomes too great. Determinations regarding interference with school activities or regarding excessive wear shall be within the sole discretion of the District.
- 3. District buildings and facilities shall not be rented on Christmas Day, Thanksgiving Day, New Year's Day, Independence Day, or Labor Day, unless a waiver is granted by the Superintendent or designee.
- 4. Any use of District kitchen facilities shall require the presence of a District cafeteria manager.
- 5. The District athletic director shall approve all sports-related activities, and the District fine arts coordinator shall approve all fine arts-related activities.
- 6. An organization using a District building or facility shall be required to show liability coverage unless a waiver is granted by the Superintendent or designee. [See Release Of Liability, above]
- 7. The District reserves the right to charge any appropriate fee that is deemed necessary for use of a District building or facility. The District, when it deems necessary, reserves the right to require an administrator or police presence for any building or facility rental at the sole cost of the user.
- Usage Fees section: Users shall be charged a fee to pay for operation, supervision, or cleanup costs at District buildings and facilities. The Board shall publish a schedule of fees for the use of District buildings and facilities.
- All users shall be charged a usage fee except as set out below.
- Complimentary, Reduced, Or Waived Fees section: Parent/teacher/employee organizations and other adult groups organized for the express purpose of supporting District activities and/or programs, such as PTA/PTO, booster clubs, and employee organizations, shall be permitted to use District buildings and facilities for meeting purposes without charge during normal business hours. [See DGA and GE]
- Complimentary use shall not include the use of Districtwide facilities such as stadiums and the natatorium.
- Building use fees shall not apply when District buildings and facilities are used as polling places for public elections, for precinct and county conventions, or for public meetings sponsored by state or local governmental agencies.
- Each organization that qualifies for complimentary use of a District building or facility shall be allowed two free functions per year during nonschool hours. These functions may be activities such as fund-raisers, meetings, or special events.
- All individuals or groups that qualify for complimentary use of a District building or facility that request use beyond the two nonschool-hour functions provided by this policy shall be required to pay usage fees. However, the Board delegates to the Superintendent or designee the authority to approve additional complimentary use of District buildings or facilities to such groups when the Superintendent or designee determines such complimentary use is in the best interests of and benefits the students who attend school at the requested building.
- School employees who conduct nonschool camps, clinics, workshops, or lessons for District students shall pay reduced building or facility use fees in accordance with the District's fee schedule.
- Except as noted above, only the Board can waive all fees associated with the use of District buildings and facilities.
- Fee waiver requests shall be handled in accordance with administrative procedure GKD.
- Emergencies Or Disasters (old section): The Superintendent or designee may authorize the use of District buildings or facilities by civil defense officials in case of emergencies or disasters.
- Public Meetings Of State Or Local Governments section: Fees shall not be charged when District buildings or facilities are used for public meetings sponsored by state or local governmental agencies.
- Required Conduct section: Organizations using District buildings or facilities shall: 1. Conduct their business in an orderly manner. 2. Abide by all laws and policies, including but not limited to those prohibiting the use, sale, or possession of alcoholic beverages, illegal drugs, and firearms and the use of tobacco products on school property. 3. Make no alteration, temporary or permanent, to school property without prior written consent from the Superintendent.
- Applicability Of Policy section: This policy shall apply to the use of all District buildings and facilities unless this policy is specifically superseded by another policy, rule, or contract.
AI-generated assessment. Verify citations independently before relying on this analysis.
- Religious Organization Access: State law S.B. 2986 (passed in 2025) allows Texas school districts to permit religious organizations to use school facilities. This policy reflects that option by listing religious activities as an approved type of facility use.
- Child Abuse Reporting Rules: State law TEC §38.004 requires school district employees to report suspected child abuse. This policy goes further by also requiring outside groups using district facilities to follow reporting rules and cooperate with investigations — a choice the district made on its own beyond what the law requires.
- New User Categories and Scheduling Order: The district created five new official categories for people and groups who want to use school facilities, and set a priority order for scheduling. These categories and the priority system are not required by state law — the district designed them on its own.
- Facility Use Fees: The district may charge fees to outside groups using its facilities, and those fees are based on a schedule approved by the school board. No facility can be made available until the board has formally adopted a fee schedule for it.
- Broad Cancellation Authority: The district can deny, cancel, or permanently revoke facility use for a wide range of reasons, including for any reason at its discretion. This is a local policy choice that goes beyond the narrower cancellation rules in the previous policy.
- Appeals Process: People or groups whose facility use requests are denied or revoked can appeal through the district's standard grievance process. This is a local procedural step the district chose to include — no state law requires it.
AI-generated assessment. Verify citations independently before relying on this analysis.
This is a comprehensive rewrite of Conroe ISD's GKD (Nonschool Use of School Facilities) local policy. The update introduces new defined categories of facility users (District Facility, Facility User, Campus Affiliated Facility User, Employee Facility User, Student Activity, Student After School Facility User), replaces the old paper-based application process with an online portal system, restructures scheduling priorities into a formal numbered hierarchy, overhauls fee structures with detailed provisions for different user categories, and replaces the old "Special Provisions" and "Required Conduct" sections with a new comprehensive "Facility Use Requirements" section, while adding a transition deadline of August 31, 2026.
AI-generated assessment. Verify citations independently before relying on this analysis.
- Board Authority Over Facilities: Texas Education Code §11.151 gives school boards broad authority to manage district property and adopt rules about its use. This policy rewrite is the district's own choice to exercise that authority — no state law required it to update or maintain a facility use policy.
- New User Categories: The updated policy creates six defined categories for people and groups who want to use school facilities, such as campus-affiliated users and employee facility users. State law does not require or describe these categories; the district designed this classification system on its own.
- Online Application Portal: The policy replaces paper applications with an online portal for requesting facility use. No state law requires or specifically allows an online system over any other method — this is an administrative choice made entirely by the district.
- Scheduling Priority System: The policy sets up a numbered priority list that determines which users get first access to facilities when there is scheduling competition. Texas Education Code §11.151 gives the board general authority to manage district property, but the specific ranking order and structure were designed by the district without any state requirement to do so.
- Fee Structure by User Type: The policy establishes a detailed fee schedule that charges different amounts depending on which user category is requesting the facility. Texas Education Code §11.151(a) permits the board to receive funds lawfully obtained, but the specific fees and how they differ by user type are decisions made entirely by the district.
- Transition Deadline: The policy sets August 31, 2026 as the deadline for moving to the new system. No state law requires this date or any specific implementation timeline — it is a scheduling decision made by the district.
AI-generated assessment. Verify citations independently before relying on this analysis.
This update to Conroe ISD's GKD (Local) policy adds a new "Religious Organization Use" section that explicitly permits religious organizations to use district facilities for worship, services, sermons, or assemblies, subject to standard terms and fees (unless waived by the Board), and holds them liable for any damages incurred during use.
Added
- Religious Organization Use section (new heading and full text): 'The District may allow a religious organization to use the district's or school's facilities to host religious worship, services, sermons, or assemblies only if the facility use does not interfere with the District's educational mission (see GKD Legal for clarification). A religious organization shall follow the District's standard terms and pay the District's standard fees for usage, unless the Board waives the fees. A religious organization shall be liable for any damages while utilizing district facilities.'