New Parks & Rec agreement requested by School Board

By Phyllis Cook
for The Journal - King George County

The Journal - King George County/STPNS

November 30, 2007

KING GEORGE, Virginia (STPNS) -- The King George School Board has made a written request asking for a copy of the current draft revisions to an agreement between it and the Board of Supervisors that addresses the use of school buildings by the Parks & Recreation Department when classes are not in session.

The issue was addressed in a letter sent by division Superintendent Dr. Candace Brown late last month at the School Board's direction.

Brown noted that the School Board has "questioned several times the status of the Agreement between the Parks and Recreation Department and the School Board.  At this point, the agreement has been under review for two years."

Brown added, "Please let me know when the School Board can anticipate having a draft copy to review."

Supervisors have also asked County Administrator Bryan David for his latest revision several times in the last few months.

o     SCHOOL BOARD 2005 REVISION    In December 2005, Supervisors directed revamping the agreement with the School Board regarding use of the schools by Parks & Recreation and the public.  

The action had been prompted by a request from then-Parks & Recreation director Tina Blair forwarded to the Board of Supervisors at a November 2005 meeting to amend the agreement to require the county "to follow all rules and regulations set by the King George County School Board when approving or disapproving all requests" for use of the school buildings when not in use by the division.

Supervisors balked at that request by the School Board and asked to be provided with the School Board's rules and regulations, which were given them by County Administrator Bryan David in December 2005.  

The policies and application for use of school buildings by groups raised more questions.

Supervisors noted that the School Board's application does not include rental of the School Board Office building, also called "old King George Elementary School."  

It was also noted that School Board policies did not address rental to commercial or for-profit groups, and the application form only appeared to provide use to school groups, community groups, government use, and non-profit organizations.  

David was directed to work with county attorney Matt Britton to develop and recommend wording for a new agreement that will address such things as standards for requiring the provision of Sheriff's deputies for security, as needed, along with collection of those costs.  

David also pointed out at the time that the agreement should contain provisions for denial of an application if the requesting organization doesn't meet some accepted community standard.

County Attorney Britton also noted that additional provisions might be added to address differently the buildings that are owned by the School Board and those owned by the county.  

Sealston Elementary School is owned by the county, with the School Board holding a 50-year lease for the property from the Board of Supervisors.  The new high school under construction is also owned by the county, not the School Board.

For Sealston, Supervisors had included a clause in the lease to prohibit the School Board from making assignment or subleases "of any kind."   A similar lease is likely to be executed for the new high school property.

After Parks & Recreation Director Blair left the position in June 2006, the project to revise the Parks & Rec agreement was put on hold until a new director was hired.  

Tim Smith was hired in October 2006, and in addition to other department overhauls, he reviewed the agreement and offered his revisions.  

A monthly written report by Smith noted that he had finished his review of the draft agreement last spring.  He told The Journal he provided his recommendation to County Administrator David this past May.  

David has said he is reviewing the proposed document.  

He has refused requests from The Journal to release the draft proposal to the public under the "working papers" exemption of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act.  

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