Policy

Policy 10400 - Community Use of Facilities & Grounds

1. INTENT

Under the School Act, the Surrey Board of Education is obligated to provide facilities and grounds sufficient to conduct K-12 education programs. The conduct of such programs is recognized as the primary purpose of all district facilities and properties.

The district agrees to extend to the public the opportunity to access schools and grounds with rental charges being assessed as per regulation. Such access is granted provided that community use of school buildings and grounds is conducted responsibly and does not interfere with regular curricular and extra- curricular programming.

The district does not endorse or represent any external group that rents its facilities or grounds.

The district understands that the allocation of limited available surplus school hour space must be conducted by a process that is transparent, fair and consistent.

2. SCOPE

The Bell Performing Arts Centre is covered by Policy 10410 and Regulation 10410.1.

Generally, the district agrees that other facilities and grounds will be rented for a variety of community uses in accordance with district policy and regulation and in accordance with the spirit and intent of the BC Human Rights Code. Where there is a reasonable expectation that a confrontation between opposing groups might occur as a result of a rental or if an activity or event proposed to be hosted in a school is considered discriminatory, racist, obscene, slanderous, libelous, or if it may be otherwise detrimental to the district, management is vested with the authority to approve or deny access to school facilities and grounds.

3. AUTHORITY

The district reserves the right to enter into reciprocal agreements with the City of Surrey (on behalf of Surrey Parks, Recreation & Culture) and with the City of White Rock (on behalf of White Rock Leisure Services) with respect to joint site acquisition, development, and maintenance.

The district assigns the responsibility for the Community Use of Facilities & Grounds policy to the secretary-treasurer.

4. PRIORITY FOR USE

Allocation of time available at district facilities and grounds shall be made on the basis of the following priorities:

4.1.	Regular curricular and school-organized and sponsored extra-curricular activities.
4.2.	Adult and continuing education credit course programs, including those co- sponsored by other publicly funded educational institutions.
4.3.	Historical user groups, which are defined as those that held a Rental License of a facility or grounds in the year immediately preceding a current application for use. Historical groups have right of first refusal for the same area, day and time, provided such group submits a renewal application within district booking deadlines.
4.4.	All other outside groups including non-profit and commercial or private ventures.

The above priorities apply, except where a district approved agreement requires otherwise.

Despite historical rights, any user may be bumped from a particular time, day or facility or grounds based on the above noted priority.

Revised:	2021-06-09 2014-01-17 2012-06-21 2007-06-28 2005-06-30 2004-05-13 2003-06-30 1995-05-25 1994-09-22 1991-10-10 1991-08-29 (Effective 1991-09-01) 1989-10-12 1988-03-10 1986-07-03 (Effective 1986-07-01) 1986-02-27 1979-02-19
Approved:	1975-12-01
X-Ref:	Policy #6512 Policy #6802 Policy #10410 Policy #10415