Use of Knox County Schools facilities by community groups and groups not associated directly with the school system iis administered through the Maintenance & Operations Department.

Download the Use of Facility form.

For more information contact the Maintenance Department at 594-3633.

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Download the Use of Facility form. This form must be completed and approved before groups may use a school facility.

General Guidelines:

1. School activities have priority for the use of any building — this applies even in cases where groups have requested the use of the building several weeks in advance.
2. School buildings and grounds or portions thereof may be used for auxiliary, educational, recreational, cultural, and such other purposes as promote the welfare of the community.
3. School facilities may not be used for private profit.
4. Groups or individuals requesting to use school facilities must make application through the principal and have approval of the Superintendent prior to the date of use.
5. The principal or principal’s designee must be on duty in the building at all times during the period of use.
6. The holder of an approved application to use school facilities may cancel the agreement by giving the principal or the Superintendent notice at least twenty-four hours in advance of the date scheduled to be used.  Otherwise, the group will be held responsible for all charges.
7. When use of the school building involves use of food service facilities, the manager or a member of the food service staff designated by the manager shall be paid for this service.  Food service personnel and custodians shall be present and shall be paid per hour for the time they are on duty when the building facilities are used by organizations.
8. Procedure for payment for use of school facilities shall be as follows:
   
    a.    Community, governmental, or political groups:
   
            (1)    Shall pay to the Board of Education the approved fee and shall pay for the required school personnel (custodian, food service workers) the hourly rate on the approved fee schedule if a fee is charged to persons attending the activity.
   
   b.    All other groups shall pay to the Board of Education the hourly rate on the approved fee schedule.
   
   c.    All payments to the Board of Education shall be made payable to the Knox County Board of Education and should be received in the Business Office no later than forty-eight hours after the date of use.
9. While in use, school buildings shall have ALL EXITS UNLOCKED and Fire Prevention Regulations shall be strictly enforced.
10. At the conclusion of the activity, the user of the facility will notify the principal or his/her designated school employee.
11. The holder of an approved application to use grounds, equipment, or space in a school building shall agree to observe the following rules and regulations of the Board of Education.
    
    a.    To exercise the utmost care in the use of school premises
    
    b.    To make good any damage arising from the occupancy of any portion of the school premises.
    
    c.    To hold the Board of Education blameless for any claim, loss, or damage by reason of any act on the part of the applicant or other members of the organization
    
    d.    All activities must be under competent adult supervision and approved by the building principal.  In all cases, an assigned school employee will be present.
    
     e.    The use of alcoholic beverages, drugs, profane language, or gambling in any form is not permitted on school property.  Use of tobacco within the building is not permitted.
12. The principal and the Superintendent reserve the right to determine the need and the number of uniformed officers to be on duty for school, community, and non-school related activities.  Officers shall be selected from the group
    commissioned by the Sheriff and directed by the Knox County Schools’ Safety Officer.
13. The principal and the Superintendent reserve the right to cancel the use of the school facility at any time due to an emergency.
14. Specific Regulations:
    
     a.    Proper liability insurance will be required by all groups given permission to use school facilities, except where this coverage is already provided by the Board of Education.
    
     b.    The use of the facilities by a religious group for instructional and/or religious purposes is restricted to temporary situations, and the group must show definite effort and progress in obtaining and/or providing its own facilities as quickly as possible.
    
     c.    Should a religious organization request to use school facilities for a not-for-profit activity other than instructional and/or religious nature, it will be treated as other community organizations.
    
    d.    The Board of Education will approve and periodically review use and a fee schedule for the use of school facilities by community or civic organizations and other non-profit, recreational, or religious groups.
15. Recreation Bureau Use of Gymnasiums
    
    a.    School gymnasiums will be released to the Recreation Departments of Knox County and Knoxville City for scheduled practice and games after mutually satisfactory agreement has been reached between the school principal and the Recreation Bureau representative as to:
    (1)    Evenings to be used
    (2)    Adequate supervision
    (3)    Rates of pay for all supervisory and custodial services
    (4)    Any other matters as may be required in order to protect school property and to serve the program of the Recreation Bureau
    b.    The Recreation Bureau shall furnish to the school principal and to the Superintendent’s office a schedule of all games and practices for which they intend to use the school gymnasium.

Fee Schedule For Use of School Facilities Effective August 17, 2010
    
 

    I.  Charges for use of Auditoriums,                             $45.00/hour
        Gymnasiums, Cafeterias for all schools    maximum $125.00/day
                                                                 maximum $300.00/week

    II. Per Classroom or Single Flattop                  for use $35.00/hour
        or Other Areas                                      maximum $125.00/day
                                                                 maximum $300.00/week

        1-5 classrooms    $65.00/hour
                   maximum $190.00/day
                maximum $300.00/week

        6-10 classrooms    $125.00/hour
                      maximum $250.00/day
                    maximum $300.00/week

        11-15 classrooms    $190.00/hour
                       maximum $375.00/day
               maximum per week $500.00  
     
    III.   Per Shop at Vocational Centers per hour per use    $50.00
    IV.    Per Kitchen per hour for use                                 $35.00
     V.    Rate per hour for Custodian or Food Service          $20.00        Worker (minimum 2 1/2 hours)    
    VI.    Rate for Food Service Manager per hour                $25.00
   VII.    Rate for Security per hour (minimum 2 hours)       $25.00

This fee schedule applies to all non-school activities.

Download the Use of Facility form.