MORGAN -- District officials are making sure they have things in order before the public comes knocking on the doors of the Trojan Century Center, a 46,000-square-foot physical education center scheduled for January 2012 completion.
"We have such a nice facility," Morgan School Board President Joey Skinner said. "We could have people come in and want to make some major money. It is hard to administer."
According to drafts of the district's building-use policy, use of district property for civic center purposes "shall not interfere with any school function or purpose."
School district officials say school uses come first, county recreation programs next, and public use third in priority for use of public facilities.
So far, the building rental fee schedule draft doesn't differentiate between local and out-of-county users.
It does, however, distinguish between charitable/nonprofit and commercial use. Skinner said the line between nonprofit and commercial entites "is not black and white."
For example, private music lessons and private tutoring will be subject to the same fees as a for-profit sports camp event.
"A flat-fee schedule is a big change," Skinner said. "I have a problem with the same fee for a local piano teacher who wants space for a recital, and a for-profit group. The flat fee looks good for a commercial guy, but not great for locals."
Morgan resident Kirk Miles recently formed a competition basketball club of 122 kids representing 80 Morgan families.
Under current fee schedules, Miles said he pays "an awesome rate" of $12.50 for 90 minutes of practice in district facilities.
He said in Weber and Davis counties, the largest fee he has encountered is $25 an hour. Under Morgan's proposed new schedule, 90 minutes of practice would amount to $150.
"It will price kids right out of using the facilities," Miles said. "We have a real concern with the fee schedule."
The fee schedule draft includes fees for Morgan High School, Morgan Middle School, Morgan Elementary School, Mountain Green Elementary School and the new Trojan Century Center. Fees for a field and gym area in the new facility are double those for a classroom or track.
Superintendent Ken Adams said the rental policy and accompanying fee schedule will take several months to finalize.
He expects charges for nonprofit groups to change.
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