FILE:  KF

Cf:  EBA

 

USE OF SCHOOL FACILITIES

 

 

The St. Martin Parish School Board recognizes the functions of school buildings and grounds shall be to accommodate approved school programs for students and to assist in meeting the educational, cultural, civic, social and recreational need of communities.  Use of school buildings by the community shall be considered a secondary function so as not to interfere with regular school-day programs of the students.  School buildings may be used by the public only in instances where there is no personal gain by any person or any group of persons.

 

REQUIREMENTS

 

Anyone or group wishing to use school facilities shall complete a Request for Use of School Facility agreement.  Before being considered for approval by the School Board, the applications shall contain the signature of the principal and Director of Operations.  The agreement shall contain the following terms, conditions, and provisions:

 

  1. Clear explanation of the activities which shall be permitted at the facility.

  2. At no time shall any alcohol, tobacco, or controlled dangerous substance(s) be possessed, sold, or consumed or advertised on the school premises.

    The use of any tobacco product, smokeless tobacco, or any smoking object/device, including but not limited to electronic cigarettes, advanced personal vaporizers, vape pens, vape mods and similar devices, shall be prohibited on and in all School Board property and vehicles, and at all school-sponsored or school-approved functions.  However, this prohibition shall not be applicable to any tobacco product approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for sale as a tobacco cessation product and which is marketed and sold solely for such purpose.

    School Board property shall include any elementary or secondary school buildings or grounds, buildings, portable buildings, field houses, stadiums, equipment storage areas, vacant land, or any other property owned, operated, or leased by the School Board.

 

  1. Applicant shall be solely and exclusively responsible for providing security and a school employee for those participating in and/or observing the activities for which the said facility is being used.  Therefore, applicant warrants and represents that adequate security and school employee arrangements have been confected and will be present at the school facility during the time the premises are being used.

  2. At the conclusion of the activities for which the facility is being used, applicant shall remove any and all trash and other debris generated from its use of the school property.  Moreover, applicant shall be responsible for all damages sustained during the use of the school property; accordingly, in connection therewith, applicant shall post a security deposit in an amount as determined by the School Board.

  3. Applicant shall hold the St. Martin Parish School Board and all of its employees, representatives, employees, or School Board members, and agents harmless from any and all damages which may be sustained by any person, firm, or entity associated with the activities being conducted on the school property in accordance with the agreement.  Furthermore, applicant shall agree to indemnify the St. Martin Parish School Board and/or any of its agents, representatives, employees, or School Board members, for any damages which any of them may pay or for which they may be held, liable as a consequence of any sort of injury to person(s) or property, however occasioned, arising out of the use of the said facility on the date(s) and at the time(s) set forth in the agreement.  The St. Martin Parish School Board shall reserve the right to require the applicant to provide liability insurance with a good and solvent insurance carrier in an amount to be fixed by the School Board and which provides coverage in favor of the St. Martin Parish School Board, as well as all of its employees, agents, representatives, and members, with regard to the use of the school property in question.  A copy of such insurance, if required, shall be produced to the Superintendent or his/her designee.

  4. At no time shall the school property be used for any illegal purpose or for any activity which may be in violation of any state, local, or municipal statute, rule, or ordinance.

  5. The St. Martin Parish School Board retains the right to inspect the premises and/or monitor the activities being conducted thereon at any time.  Should the applicant be found to be in violation of any term or condition expressed in the agreement or otherwise, then authorization to use the school property in question shall immediately terminate, at which time the applicant must vacate the premises without the necessity of any written notice, formal demand, or judicial action.

  6. The applicant, by his/her signature on the requesting agreement, warrants and represents, as a condition for use of the premises in question, he/she, as applicant, is a person of the full age of majority, or he/she has full, legal, complete, and absolute authority to sign the agreement on behalf of applicant which is a legal entity duly authorized to transact business and/or conduct affairs in the state of Louisiana.

 

USE OF FOOTBALL FIELDS

 

  1. Any person or entity wishing to use a football field at any of the high schools shall submit the required Use of Facilities form, and shall be required to fulfill all requirements outlined on that form with the exception of the deposit.

  2. A non-refundable fee of $1,500.00 per day shall be paid for use of one of the turf football fields by any outside entity, to be submitted upon approval of the application by the Superintendent.  The principal or his/her designee shall be present when the field is being used by an entity outside of the St. Martin Parish School District, and shall be paid at the School Board approved rate per hour out of the fee.

  3. All schools within the St. Martin Parish School District shall be allowed to use the turf football fields when not in use by the high school.  The principal or his/her designee from the school using the facility shall be present during the use of field, and that school shall be responsible for cleaning the stadium and for any damage done to the facilities.

  4. The following entities shall be exempt from the $1,500 fee:  St. Martin Parish Government and St. Bernard School.  However, both entities shall provide the required liability insurance.

 

  1. Members of the general public shall not be allowed to exercise or have general access to the high school football stadiums.  Football stadiums are to be used for authorized sporting events, or organizations who have approved Use of Facility agreements which have been approved by the Superintendent.

 

SPECIAL PROVISIONS

 

St. Martin Parish Government

 

The St. Martin Parish Government is authorized to use school buildings for polling places on the condition that election officials in charge on election day shall permit no loitering on the school premises.

 

Arrangements for opening and closing the facilities shall be made with the principal of the school involved and compensation shall be made to the appropriate individual.

 

St. Martin Parish Civil Defense

 

The Civil Defense director is authorized to use any and all necessary school facilities for emergency shelters or accommodations to help provide services to the public in the event of any declared emergency.

 

USE OF SCHOOL GROUNDS

 

The public shall be allowed to use school grounds (excluding buildings) for recreational or sport purposes only during daylight hours and only during the time when classes or other school or school-sponsored or approved activities are not being held.  No motor vehicles of any type, firearms or explosives or other dangerous weapons, or alcoholic beverages shall be allowed on any school grounds.  All activities of a non-recreational or non-sports nature, such as political rallies, gatherings, or meetings shall usually be prohibited.

 

No supervisory personnel shall be provided during this time, and any person who uses the school grounds for the limited purposes set forth herein does so at his/her own risk.  The School Board shall assume no liability for any accident, injury, or loss suffered by any person using the school grounds under the permission herein granted.

 

The person, group, or organization shall provide the required certificate of insurance prior to the use of school grounds.

 

Revised:  January, 2004 Revised:  March 13, 2019
Revised:  June 1, 2011 Revised:  August 7, 2019
Revised:  December 6, 2017  

 

 

Ref:    Constitution of Louisiana, Art. VII, Sec. 14

La. Rev. Stat. Ann. ยงยง14:91.7, 17:81, 17:240, 40:1291.1, 40:1291.2, 40:1291.3, 40:1291.11, 40:1291.21

Board minutes, 8-6-03, 6-1-11, 12-6-17, 3-13-19, 8-7-19

 

St. Martin Parish School Board