Judy Seckler
DOWNTOWN -- The Glendale Unified School District today will clarify
its district facilities policy, continuing a discussion that began at the
Oct. 17 meeting.
Changes are made to the policy every three or four years, board
President Jeanne Bentley said. In October 1999, the board brought up the
need to clarify parts of the policy, Bentley said.
Wording has been simplified to explain the time frame for free room
usage available for Group I category renters -- community-based
nonprofit/civic organizations with activities run by unpaid volunteers.
As an example, the policy that previously said Group 1 users could
have occasional and limited use of district facilities for "approximating
once weekly or less and no more than two hours" has been changed to read
"less than four times during each six-month period and no more than two
hours."
The discussion of the policy comes as a religious group in Glendale --
The Child Evangelism Fellowship -- is suing the district for alleged
religious discrimination over room rental fees.
The lawyers for the suit are arguing about cost, board member Pam
Ellis said. But costs will not be changed in the revised policy, Ellis
said.
"We have to be very careful when it comes to religion. We have to be
fair."
The district has still not been served with the lawsuit, said Steve
Hodgson, assistant supteritendent of business services.
When the board was discussing the school facilities policy in October,
they had no knowledge of the lawsuit, Hodgson said. The district received
a news release Nov. 1 describing the suit.
"The only awkward thing here is the timing," he said. Fees will remain
the same. However, the board will move its information on fees from the
policy section to the administrative regulation section of the policy.
The new changes will add clarity to areas where people are confused,
board member Pam Ellis said.
ON THE AGENDA
The Glendale Unified School District Board of Education will meet at
3:30 p.m. today in the administration center at 223 N. Jackson St. for
discussion, information, acknowledgments, recognitions and closed
session. The board will meet at 7 p.m. for consent and action items.
The board will discuss the following items:
* Status report on Measure K projects.
* Clarification of math high school graduation requirements.
* Board regulations on sixth-grade promotional activities.
The board will receive information on the following items:
* Clark Magnet High School Accreditation procedure.
* Status report on the development of a master plan for facility use
and student housing.
* Report of district budget status and next steps for 2000-01 and
2001-02.
The board will take action on the following items:
* Call for nominations for California School Boards Assn. Delegate
Assembly.
* Adoption of Resolution No. 11 providing for district participation
in the state's Special Education Mandated Cost Claim settlement.
