CPS Board Policy

Board Policy link: Board Policy 7510
Book - Cincinnati City School District Policies
Section - 7000 Property
Title - Use Of District Facilities And Property
Code - 7510
Status - Active
Adopted - August 24, 2009
Last Revised - May 16, 2019
Last Reviewed - August 16, 2018

The Board of Education recognizes that:
 
District facilities are primarily for Cincinnati Public Schools' purposes and uses required by school sponsored curricular and co- curricular activities.  The Board may authorize use of District facilities and property necessary for any lawful purpose that does not interfere with operation of the school.
 
The Superintendent or the Superintendent's designee shall develop administrative procedures for the District facilities and property.  Such procedures shall include direction regarding use of the following:
 
A. A schedule of fees to be determined by costs incurred as a result of using a District facility.
 
B. Unless waived by the Director, Facilities, user(s) as well as any contractors, suppliers or other vendors hired by users
shall each provide minimum general liability insurance as follows:                                                                             
                                       
     a. Coverage limits of at least $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate. 
 
     b. If user’s general liability policy covers more than one location, the above coverage limits shall    apply separately to each location.
 
     c. Names CPS, its employees, board members and volunteers as additional insureds with                coverage applying on a primary and non-contributory basis, irrespective of any other coverage which CPS, its employees, board members or volunteers may choose to maintain. 
 
     d. Include a waiver of subrogation in favor of CPS, its employees, board members, and volunteers.
 
     e. In no event shall the insurance requirements listed herein be waived should alcohol of any kind be served at any event.

C. Use of school equipment requested in conjunction with facility use.
 
D. Financial liability for and damage to facilities and/or equipment used.
 
E. The sponsor of any event involving children must make arrangements for an appropriate number of chaperones for the
event.  An event-specific security and safety plan may be required up to 30 days prior to event.
 
F. Use of common areas; if using classrooms, teachers must be notified prior to the event.
 
G. Communication plan where principals notify all staff when the building is being used.
                                                                   
H. Requirement that all visitors comply with Board Policy 7434 which prohibits the use of tobacco and tobacco-related products, including e-cigarettes, on District property.
                                                                                                                               
I. A waiver submission for sale or distribution of alcohol must be submitted for review and recommendation to the Partnership/Public Engagement Committee.  All waiver requests must be approved by the Board of Education.  The request for a waiver must be submitted and could take up to four (4) months to be considered by the Board Of Education.
 
Community Use of School Facilities
 
The school buildings and grounds are to serve the organized educational program of the District.  Historically, the Board of Education has encouraged the use of the Districts’ facilities to the fullest possible extent compatible with school purposes.  In every school community there are educational, cultural, recreational, and civic activities that meet the criteria of educational
compatibility and supplement the regular school program, contributing to the welfare of the entire community.  However, these supplementary uses of District facilities must not interfere with the regular school program.
 
School facilities shall be made available for use by groups of individuals or responsible organizations; such use shall not interfere with the regular program of the schools.  The District shall issue permits to organizations and individuals upon satisfactory completion of the District’s Building Rental Application Process.  Any permit issued for the use of school facilities shall be subject to cancellation should the facilities be needed for use for school purposes.  Cancellation shall be used only when necessary.
 
It shall be the policy of the Board of Education to cooperate with the Cincinnati Recreation Commission (CRC) in promoting the fullest possible use of all of the recreational facilities of the community, including District facilities.
 
No school building or ground shall be used for any of the following purposes:
 
A. For commercial or personal gain, profit or financial compensation except as specified.
 
B. For any form of gambling.
 
C. For any private instructional classes that do not supplement the schools’ instructional program or comport with the District’s program or instructional standards as determined by the professional staff member so assigned by the building Principal. 
 
D. For any private classes or instruction that occur under the direction of school authorities or approved public or community agency where District employees are paid on a commission basis.
 
E. For any group instruction sponsored by an individual, corporation or profit-making organization whereby fees or admissions are collected accrue solely or primarily for the benefit of the sponsor.
 
F. For any money-raising activity unless the proceeds thereof are used for school purposes or for an approved charitable (501(c)(3), educational, character-building, or other community welfare purposes.
 
G. For any money-raising activity, regardless of the use to be made of the proceeds, if any of the goods or services utilized for the activity are purchased on a commission or percentage basis.
 
H. For racial or religious purposes contrary to Board Policy 2260, Non-Discrimination And Access To Equal Educational Opportunity.
 
The schedule of building rental charges shall be established or published annually by the Superintendent of the Superintendent's designee.