BENTONVILLE -- School Board members reviewed changes to the facility rental policy Monday that could require outside groups using school facilities to meet certain security requirements.
Superintendent Debbie Jones presented a modified policy allowing nonschool organizations to use elementary and junior high school buildings after school dismissal, pending board approval at the Aug. 20 meeting.
Student support counselor
Board members unanimously approved replacing the advisory coordinator position at Bentonville High School with a student support counselor. The counselor will assume the advisory coordinator’s duties when it comes to assisting teachers with advisory curriculum but will focus on students’ emotional and social well being, said Dena Ross, the district’s chief operating officer.
The position is vacant, and school officials decided it would benefit students to employ a licensed counselor or clinical social worker as a counselor, Ross said. Superintendent Debbie Jones said implementing a counselor who will focus on mental health rather than only academic progression is necessary for a safe school environment.
Source: Staff report
The modified policy requires organizations to provide proof of state and federal background checks completed through the district annually for those who will enter school buildings, according to the policy. A school supervisor would also require the organization's on-site representatives wear school identification badges.
The Facility Use Agreement Policy has prohibited nonschool organizations from using elementary and middle school facilities during the district's Adventure Club before-and-after-school program since February, said Leslee Wright, the district's communications director. The program is open to kindergarteners through sixth-graders from 6 to 7:30 a.m. and from 2:30 to 6 p.m. on school days at each of the district's elementary and middle schools.
Bentonville school officials have allowed outside groups to use their buildings during after-school hours prior to reviewing the rules in January, but background checks weren't required, Wright said. Officials required a school employee to work as a supervisor at outside groups' meetings and will continue to require a supervisor for each group meeting.
Organizations would be required to pay $40 per hour for a supervisor and a rental fee that varies depending on the user's classification as a nonprofit youth, nonprofit adult or for-profit organization, according to the policy. The rental fee may be waived for nonprofit youth organizations using a cafeteria or classroom.
The modified policy also allows for nonprofit youth organizations to rent facilities in one-hour increments on school days, according to the policy. Nonprofit adult and for-profit organizations must pay rental fees at a three-hour minimum.
Board member Brent Leas thinks the modifications are a productive measure toward improving safety at the schools, he said at the meeting.
"I think this approach is extremely fair and the right steps to take," he said.
For students who don't participate in the Adventure Club, the policy change will prevent students from remaining unsupervised while they wait for another group meeting, Jones said. The policy will continue to prioritize school events and only allow nonschool use when available, Wright said.
"We were very cognizant of the fact that we want community clubs in our schools," Jones said. "We got to the best place we possibly could on this while also protecting our kids after school and protecting our facilities."
NW News on 08/07/2018