Grants: Community Use of Schools

Community Use of Schools

Introduction

In 1993 the Nova Scotia government began to implement a Policy on Co Com- mmunity Use of Schools munity which builds upon the Nova Scotia tradition of "community schools." Community Use of Schools provides for the use of the physical plant and equipment by the community of general recreational purposes. Community Schools as implemented in Nova Scotia relates to the extension of the educational process into the whole community. The Policy on Community Use of Schools outlines the roles and responsibilities of all the partners involved in a Joint Use Agreement Agreement, the formal agreement outlining the terms and conditions of the arrangement. This publication provides the basic information required to maximize the new opportunities and potential that arise when a community uses its important school resources for recreation as well as for education.

Rationale

In the past, communities have built independent recreation facilities, which in many cases have duplicated facilities and resources available in schools. As costs of constructing and operating facilities become an important focus, such duplication must be eliminated. Two pilot projects, Tallahassee Community School in Eastern Passage and Forest Heights Community School in Chester have amply demonstrated that the school board, the municipality and the community itself all benefit when schools are designed and constructed with community recreation, as well as education needs in mind.

Community Use of Schools Policy

• It is the policy of the government of Nova Scotia that school capital construction projects be planned, designed, constructed, and managed for community use, without compromising the educational function of the facility.
• An agreement will be drawn up to formalize arrangements between the school board, the municipality, and the government of Nova Scotia on the design, construction, and use of the proposed facilities.
• The government of Nova Scotia will encourage school boards and municipalities to formalize agreements for the community's use of existing educational and recreational facilities.
• The school board will determine the need for school facilities. n The municipality will determine the need for additional community facilities in any school capital construction project.
• The Department of Education will pay the capital costs of the educational facilities in accordance with standards established for the approved capital construction project.
• The municipality will be responsible for the capital costs of any noneducation requirements. Any provincial funding for non-education facilities will be coordinated by the Nova Scotia Health Promotion.

Role of the Municipality

1. Before any specific joint project is initiated, it is beneficial for the municipality to have in place some strategies and policies. These include:
1. Effective working relationships and/ or partnerships with any organization in its community involved with delivery of recreation services, e.g., school boards, other municipalities, community and sport organizations, etc.
2. An assessment of the community's program and facility needs, particularly those that may be appropriate at a school facility.
3. An established recreation committee/ commission.
2. The provincial Policy on Community Use of Schools requires that, before preparing an application for new school construction, the school board initiate discussions with the municipal units supporting the school board to determine whether or not the municipal units wish to incorporate recreation/community facilities into the design of the school building.
   
   This will trigger other requirements from the municipality, depending to a certain extent, on the municipality's desire to become involved.
1. The municipal units will provide a response to the school board, indicating whether or not they are interested in incorporating recreation/ community facilities in the design of the new school. If there is interest, the municipality will prepare and submit a full proposal.
2. Before the proposal is submitted, the municipal unit(s) will consult with the Nova Scotia Health Promotion on planning and preparing the proposal.
3. The municipality will prepare and submit their proposal to the school board. The proposal must identify the type of facility, sources of support ofr capital and operating costs, and the municipality's willingness to enter into a joint use agreement with the school board. The municipality's role will be considerably simplified if basic planning is already being undertaken on an ongoing basis.
4. The municipality will be required to become actively involved in the various committees, working groups, management committee, etc., that will be responsible for drawing up a Joint Use Agreement.
5. Finally, the municipality will be involved in the implementation of the Joint Use Agreement by participating in the management of the new joint use school.

Joint Use Agreements

The Joint Use Agreement is the keystone to successfully implementing shared use of school and community facilities. Not only should the agreement clearly delineate each party's rights and r re- espo sponsibilities, it should also be a sibilities, method whereby potential problem a ar- reas can be dealt with, in advance, in a eas mutually acceptable way.

Definition

A Joint Use Agreement as applied to Nova Scotia Community Use of Schools is a legally binding mutual agreement between a municipality (ies) and a school board which sets out the terms and conditions for the operation and management of a school facility for both educational and recreational use. Following is a listing of the types of components that should be dealt with in a Joint Use Agreement. This list is not intended to exclude other components.

Why
The basis of the agreement

Capital cost
Itemized list
Costs
Sources of financing

Municipal rights

Management
Community Use Committee/Management Committee (by-laws, etc.)
Community Use
Coordinator/Recreation Programmer (terms and conditions)
Principal's role

Conditions of usage
Policies
Users other than the municipality
Compliance with by-laws, etc.
Equipment

Liability
Shared liability
Insurance

Custodial
Conditions
Union contracts

Clerical
User fees
Supervision
Ownership
Amendment to the agreement/dispute resolution
General

Role of Nova Scotia Health Promotion

Nova Scotia Health Promotion aims to maximize the use of school facilities by the community through the design, construction, placement, and operation of such facilities in cooperation with other provincial and/ or municipal government agencies. This ensures that expenditures for public facilities are made effectively.

Objective 1

To assist in implementing the policy of the Government of Nova Scotia that school capital construction projects be planned, designed, constructed, and managed for community use without compromising the educational function of the facility.

Methods

1. Inform municipalities about the process
2. Help resolve legal and other barriers
3. Assist in the assessment of recreation facility needs
4. Provide technical advice on community use of schools.
5. Accept, in November of each year, applications for capital grants for community use of schools projects.

Objective 2

To encourage school boards and municipalities to formalize agreements for community use of existing educational and recreational facilities.

Methods

1. Educate municipal authorities about the benefits and methods of development of joint use agreements.
2. Require capital grant applications to demonstrate that they can't access appropriate school facilities.
3. Continue to participate in the interdepartmental Joint Committee on Community Use of Schools with the Department of Education.
4. Liaise with government and nongovernment agencies to promote and further joint use of schools.
5. Participate in any municipal initiative to develop a Joint Use Agreement.
6. Help resolve legal and other barriers.
7. Financially support research and planning for issues and strategies affecting joint use agreements.
8. Consider school board capital grant applications for projects that meet community recreation needs, providing there is a Joint Use Agreement.