Agenda - 11-05-2009 - 4n - Laserfiche WebLink

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4 4. There is a public health aspect to providing recreational opportunities at schools, since allowing for public use helps promote healthy lifestyles for children and adults. Key Issues 5. Though students must have priority during school hours, it appears that opportunities exist for both organized public use and individual use after school hours and on weekends. There could also be different policies for indoor and outdoor facilities (e.g., access to restroom facilities). 6. Because of the high volume of activity by interscholastic teams at the middle school and high school levels, coordinating the use of facilities (gymnasiums, fields) and activities with elementary schools would appear to offer the most opportunity. Jurisdictions and the school systems should continue to explore opportunities for co-location of facilities in the design of new schools and renovations to older schools, with the financial participation of appropriate entities/other jurisdictions. (For additional information on the co-location of facilities, please see the attached document, "A Memorandum of Agreement for Providing Coordinated Site and Facility Planning, along with adopting resolution approved by Town of Carrboro on May 23, 2000.) 7. Away to balance the need for schools to cover the costs of facilities use and the need for public access should be developed. One approach might be to eliminate or at least lower usage charges for government and nonprofit use, after determining an "actual cost" basis. Another approach is to allow the using parties to secure oversight by designating a person within the organization to take responsibility for opening and closing the facility. It is acknowledged that there might be marginal cost increases associated with this additional use, not already covered, that would need to be addressed. 8. Opportunities for limited individual access to school facilities that are often gated and closed should be examined, mindful of the need for the security and safety of the facilities. 9. Criteria utilized for facility use decision-making may need to differ from school to school. However, there should be an overall expectation that facilities will be available for public use under specified conditions. Examination of Current Policies .. 10. Policies that govern community use (both organized and individual) of school facilities for recreation should be re-examined in light of these underlying assumptions and key issues. The purpose of this examination should be to change current policies so as to increase the use of school facilities by the general public while continuing to meet the program and financial needs of the