NORTH SMITHFIELD SCHOOL DEPARTMENT USE OF FACILITIES SCHOOL COMMITTE POLICY

The North Smithfield School Department (NSSD) has established a policy to manage the use of its facilities.  Rules, regulations, requirements and procedures are necessary for the responsible use of the facilities governing the buildings of the North Smithfield Public Schools (NSPS) by non-school applicants.

It is the policy of the North Smithfield School Committee to permit responsible individuals or organizations, where the main purpose is to benefit the citizens of North Smithfield, the use of school buildings and athletic fields to the extent that there is no interference with the educational programs of the North Smithfield School Department.

The complete control of school buildings and equipment is, by law, vested in the School Committee.  The administration of the rules and regulations governing the buildings is delegated to the Superintendent of Schools or his/her designee.

Under Title 16 Education – 16-2-9, Powers and duties of school committees, Section (a)(5), the School Committee is empowered and required, subject to such regulations as it may establish and without interference to its regular school program, to allow the use of school premises.

Eligibility – User Groups

• The Superintendent of Schools and/or designee is hereby authorized to permit the use of NSPS facilities under the condition that the use of public school facilities for school-related purposes will take precedence over all outside use.
• The NSSD will endeavor to permit use of facilities on an equitable basis and accommodate the needs of applicants wherever possible.
• The use of school facilities will not interfere with the normal operation of school even when such activities are scheduled after building use has been approved.
• The School Committee and Superintendent retain the right to deny the use of school facilities to any group if it deems the use is detrimental to the interest of the community or interferes with the operation of the schools.

The following groups are eligible for the use of school facilities:

GROUP I - Internal School Programs

 School-organized programs that involve co-curricular or extra-curricular activities that are supervised and/or coordinated by school department employee(s) and sanctioned by the school department.  [ie., Student Council / Athletic Teams / Sanctioned Clubs, etc.]
 
GROUP II - School Based Organizations

Volunteer groups tied to the NSSD that support school-based programs and that are sanctioned and recognized by the Superintendent as such.  [ie., PTO / MEANS / Athletic Booster Clubs, etc.]
 
GROUP III - Non–Profit Organizations

Local municipal Parks & Recreation programs as well as all volunteer, non-profit organization groups. 75% of participants of this category must be Town residents.  [ie., Camp Phoenix, etc.]
 
GROUP IV  - Non–Profit and For-Profit Organizations

Non profit organizations facilitated by compensated directors. All for-profit groups.