Facility fees discussion only, activity passes back on agenda

Maricopa Unified School District’s governing board meets tonight at 6 p.m. at the District Office Administration Building to discuss facility usage fees and potentially approve activity passes and board involvement on community panels or committees.

Director of Business Services Aron Rausch will lead a discussion on facility usage fees, acting on his request, at the last board meeting, to table the matter for a study session. The usage fees are not agendized, so the board will not vote on this matter.

According to the board minutes, “Mr. Rausch stated that the federal government, the City (without an IGA), institutions of higher learning are types of organizations that could fall under type two. Church groups would also be considered under the class two definitions.” (click here to see class definitions in a related story)

At the Sept. 9 meeting board member Tim White expressed his concern with churches being categorized in Class 2 instead of Class 1. Class 2 usage fees are higher than Class 1 fees. For example, the hourly fee for the use of a school auditorium is $30 for Class 1 and $120 for Class 2. Use of baseball/softball fields or a track is $12.50 per hour for Class 1 and $130 per hour for Class 2.

During the study session the board will also hear a summary of the Arizona School Board Association’s legal seminar.

Another item coming back to the board is faculty and family admission passes for sporting events. The item was tabled at the Aug. 26 meeting due to a discrepancy with pricing. The new proposal recommends a $35 per year student activity pass, a $15 per year district employee pass, a $30 per year district family pass and a $50 per semester pass for community members with up to five family members.

The final item coming back to the board is the discussion and possible approval of the appointment of governing board members to community panels or committees; only one board member appointed to any one committee. This item was tabled at the last meeting for revision with different wording. Originally the item was “board members participating and representing the board on projects and interactions within the district.”

To view the entire agenda for tonight’s meeting, click here.

If you go:

What: MUSD governing board meeting
When: Wednesday, Sept. 23, at 6 p.m.
Where: District Office Administration Building, 44150 W. Maricopa-Casa Grande Hwy.

Photo by Joyce Hollis