68°
GRAFTON, Mass. — The cost to rent space in the Grafton schools is going up dramatically after the School Committee approved a rate increase Tuesday.
"We tried to increase the rates, yet stay competitive with other districts," Superintendent of Schools James Cummings said.
Under the plan, nonprofit and town-affiliated groups will pay a flat fee of $10 per hour for renting all school facilities with the exception of Grafton High School, compared with the current rate of $1 to $6 per hour. Grafton High facilities — including the auditorium and fields — will cost $20 per hour, plus additional fees for required custodial services and use of field lights.
For-profit and groups not affiliated with the town will pay $35 per hour for all school facilities except Grafton High School. Grafton High rentals will start at $50 per hour for the gym or a classroom to $100 per hour for the fields and $120 per hour for the auditorium, plus additional fees for custodial services and use of field lights.
The move was prompted by the opening of the new Grafton High School and an expected increase in demand for the state-of-the-art facility. Cummings compared the Grafton schools' rental fees with the fees of adjoining towns, discovering that Grafton's rates are far below comparable spaces.
Under the former rate, a for-profit group paid $25 per hour to use the Grafton High auditorium. That same rental costs $150 in Auburn, $75 at Nipmuc Regional High School, $40 plus utility fees in Northbridge and $125 in Westborough. While it cost $4 per hour to rent a gym, other towns charge $42 to $75 per hour.
School Committee member Teri Turgeon was the lone vote against the fee increase.
"I guess my issue is, the town paid for this building," she said, referring to Grafton High. "Why should they pay a higher rate for using this building?"
Comments (3)
Not to worry! Those of us who voted in favor of the new school, who have NO kids in the system, and who are paying for this already with our TAXES...we will actualy get a rebate! Yes, indeed. Read the fine print. It is right there in the plan. Every time someone pays to use the school FOR WHICH I AM PAYING (and derive no direct benefit), I get a few dollars off my increased tax bill. If enough people rent the school facilities, I will actually get money back from the schools. Hey...good deal!
I agree. We're all sharing the cost of building the school, but people not using the building shouldn't have to pay to defray the cost of those who are renting the space. It's a better facility, so the town should charge more (within reason of course). Maybe give a discount to residents/nonprofits(?)... but I don't see a problem with raising the fee if it's a competetive rate and people will still pay it.
The fee increase seem unnecessary as no rational was given except that other districts charge more. This does not include the high custodial fees so the intent seems to be to stifle use of the school facilities.
What happened to the idea of community schools? Now we are locking out the Grafton residents that paid for those buildings to be erected and maintained and will continue to pay for them with taxes..
I agree with Teri Turgeon's comments and I think this change is a slap at the community especially the non-profits who are working to make this town a better place.
Re-think this item, School Committee! Schools should be open after hours to the public for minimal fees.