By Mike Caputo
Potential revisions to Lawrence's policy on "Use of school buildings, grounds, and other property for non-school purposes" were introduced at the Tuesday, Nov. 20 Board of Education meeting held at the Number Six School in Woodmere.
The revisions would exempt some organizations from paying a fee for usage of school-owned facilities - including gymnasiums, auditoriums, fields and classrooms. With the exception of local volunteer fire departments, veterans' organizations and school-related parent groups, most adult organizations do not fall under the exemption and would be required to pay a facility-usage fee to the district.
Board members Dr. David Sussman and Stanley Kopilow were at odds about whether these groups should be charged a fee. Elsie Friedman, Lawrence's assistant superintendent of business, said the revenue received from the fees during 2006-07 came to about $75,000. After subtracting around $45,000 for custodial overtime pay, the district took in a net profit of $30,000, Friedman said. According to the assistant superintendent, if the district were to eliminate the fees for youth groups, which accounted for about $27,300, the district would virtually "break even."
The term "break even" angered Sussman. "We are not in a situation any longer where breaking even to me is an issue," Sussman said, referring to the district's past austerity budget
situations. "If we are talking about volunteer groups that are non-profit that come from our district, whether they are children's youth groups or not, I do not understand why we use the words 'break even' and use that as a justification for essentially double-charging for the use of buildings. I would like to see no charge to those groups."
Sussman provided as an example a senior organization planning to present a play at a district-run auditorium
or gym.
"If we have one and they have room in the gym, I don't think we need to charge them," Sussman said.
However, Kopilow held a different viewpoint, stating that these groups should be charged the fees.
"I think the district should be recouping in regard to adults," Kopilow said.
Even though the district is not working under an austerity budget for 2007-08, that doesn't mean these building usage fees should be dropped, Kopilow added.
"No way am I saying the district should make money on this proposition, but it seems to me that just because, for one particular year, we are [not on austerity] that we should now say ... the cost will be picked up by the district as opposed to the user," Kopilow said.
"Those costs should not be borne to taxpayers as a whole in the district - they should be borne by the users," he
later said.
According to the policy, the Board of Education "encourages the use of school buildings, grounds and other property by district residents and nonprofit organizations or groups for educational, civic and recreational purposes at times when they are not in use for school purposes or school related activities."
Sussman compared the situation to hospitals that charge employees for parking, saying that since the district does not charge employees for parking, it should not charge non-profit organizations for usage fees.
"I support charging no one," Sussman said after the board meeting.
Penny Schuster, co-president of the Lawrence Central Council PTA, stressed the importance of collecting building usage fees for the betterment of public school students.
"We are strongly opposed to the proposal to eliminate facility usage fees," Schuster said of the Central Council PTA's position. "That money is pure revenue and should go directly back to the children."
After the meeting, Sussman explained that the educational process in the district goes way beyond the classroom.
"You can't tell me that is not part of the educational climate of a village," Sussman said of an adult group, such as the senior organization example he brought up during the meeting. "We must be supportive of all groups in the
community."
Comments about this story? MCaputo@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 210.
