JERSEY SHORE - On Monday night, the Jersey Shore Area School Board did not make any decisions regarding policy 707, which deals with community use of district facilities, but did learn about some of the additional costs associated with community groups using its buildings.
Superintendent Richard Emery said no action will be taken on changing fees for groups using facilities. Instead, the fees will remain as they were last school year until a decision is made.
The board suspended a new fee schedule earlier this school year.
"My understanding is this is going to be an ongoing discussion," Emery told the board.
He did report on additional charges the district incurred when an outside group used one of its buildings. He said it costs about $28.32 an hour for a custodian and $8.40 an hour for a head lifeguard at the pool.
Board member John Shireman also said that although custodians are regularly there during weeknights, they have tasks they're responsible to perform already and outside groups may affect them doing such duties. Emery agreed, saying the district has cut its custodians back during the past few years.
"We have cut our custodial staff to as bare bone as we can at this point," Emery said.
He also stated that although there isn't an "astronomically" large electricity cost because of outside groups, there is additional use.
District buildings function with sensors, which turn lights on and off in sections of the buildings. When groups that normally wouldn't be in the section are present, there is an additional electrical cost.
Supervision of children also is a concern Emery has with the policy. He said the district needs to figure out a way to ensure participants of groups are being properly watched.
"There are things we need to discuss," he said.
In other business, John Compton, of ParenteBeard, reported the district had a "good, clean" audit.
"This is another good audit for the Jersey Shore Area School District," Compton said.
He added that the district added about $1.1 million to its general fund balance for the 2011-12 year.
Business Manager Adrienne Craig said the district did so in order to use the funds during the 2013-14 school year for retirement costs.
