The school year is winding down for area students, but district facilities are in business all year.
The Richmond County School System and the Columbia County School District both offer buildings and other facilities for rent.
Rentals range from sporting events to dance competitions, church activities and even a beauty pageant or two.
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District spokeswoman Lynthia Ross said from Jan. 1, 2019 through Feb. 28, 2020, Richmond County collected a total of $294,995. Of that total, $278,516 went into the general fund. The remaining $16,479 went to the school that was rented.
In Columbia County, Communications Director Abbigail Remkus says $122,289 was collected in that same timeframe. Money retained by the schools must be used for school improvements unless they get special permission to use it another way.
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Both RCSS and CCSD have specifics guidelines for who can rent a property and for what purpose. Requests must first be submitted to the school principal, who has the authority to grant or deny a request before sending it to the Board of Education for final approval.
Richmond County has a link on its website outlining procedures for renting a school with a separate section for renting a stadium: https://www.rcboe.org/site/Default.aspx?PageID=10484
Columbia County’s guidelines and fee schedule are also posted on the website: https://www.ccboe.net/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1197232&type=d&pREC_ID=1438925
In addition to the rental fee, there are also reimbursements to cover expenses incurred by the school systems.
In Richmond County, for example: “The cost of reimbursement includes usage fees, fair wear and tear, salaries of personnel, utilities and any other associated costs resulting from the rental.”
Both school systems require renters to provide proof of insurance coverage as a prerequisite before approval is given.
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RCSS requires $1 million liability and property damage insurance naming the school system as the insured.
CCSD also requires a minimum of $1 million in general liability insurance for non-school related organizations. It has a separate requirement of $1 million in general liability and $10,000 medical insurance for non-profit camps. Those policies must list the school district as the insured.
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Columbia County said it did not deny any rental requests during the two-year period. Richmond County said it does not keep track of any rental requests that were denied.
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a Staff Reporter with The Augusta Press. You can reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com.
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