Board approves new facility-use fee schedule for new users, grandfathering longtime community groups

The Manhasset Board of Education on March 26 approved final readings of policy changes affecting requests to use district facilities, adopting a fee schedule for new users while explicitly grandfathering existing community organizations.

Board member S8 reviewed the third and final reading for policy 1500 (public use of district facilities) and policy 6741 (RFP criteria notation). S8 said the revisions add groups—"tower and booster in addition to SCA and PACE"—to the list of recognized organizations and present a new fee schedule designed for new facility users. The policy retains previous rates for existing programs that the district will "grandfather" to avoid imposing new charges on longstanding community organizations.

Administrators and board members discussed details of the fee schedule: custodial and security costs will be collected via a flat fee for both existing and new users, and room or classroom charges apply to new requests. Board members noted tracking of permits and longstanding users (examples cited included PAL and Girl Scouts) to ensure continuity for community partners.

The board then moved and approved the policies on final reading by unanimous vote. Board members framed the changes as covering basic costs while protecting long-standing local nonprofts that regularly use school facilities.

What’s next: the revised policies take effect as the board’s governance documents; administrators will apply the new fee schedule to new facility-use requests and continue permitting and vetting procedures for outside organizations.