F1420 - Short-Term Leasing of Vacant School Buildings

When a school building has been vacated, the district may lease the building to other users as zoning ordinances and school board policies permit.  After considering potential district uses, the superintendent will publicly notify the community that the district seeks lessees for certain vacated buildings.
   
If a proposed lease is of more than three (3) years duration, the school board will make the decision, following board policies FB and DFDB.
   
If the proposed lease is of more than one (1) year but no more than three (3) years duration, the following administrative procedures will apply:

1. Facilities Management will to advise the Superintendent or designee upon specific lease proposals.      
2. Facilities staff will review the proposed uses and will report to the superintendent whether each proposed use is permitted by the zoning ordinance, whether the use is fiscally advisable, and whether the use is compatible with the neighborhood.  If more than one use is judged to be permissible, fiscally sound and compatible, the superintendent or designee may make nonbinding recommendations on the use.
3. The district will retain ownership of the property to be leased.
4. Options to renew may be written into the lease agreement at the discretion of the district. However, renewals which would extend over three years in duration will be subject to decision by the school board, according to policies FB and DFDB.
5. The district will not expend or become obligated to expend any funds on buildings or building improvements to accommodate users unless such expenses are recovered within the terms of the lease agreement.
6. The district will maintain all buildings and grounds on a regular basis unless provisions of the lease agreement specify otherwise. Where feasible, a portion of each site, and especially playground facilities, shall continue to be made available for community and neighborhood use.
7. There will be adequate services--including water, sewage, and drainage--to support the proposed use.
8. Single use of a building is preferable to multiple use.
9. Long-term use is preferable to short-term use
10. The lessee will be responsible for and bear expenses for applications for conditional use permits, building permits, and/or occupancy permits (as necessary).  The lease agreement will not be final or binding until evidence has been furnished to the superintendent or designee that the necessary permits have been obtained.
11. Any modifications to the structure to meet the needs of the lessee shall be at the lessee's expense, shall be subject to prior approval by the district, and the lessee shall return the building to original condition upon vacating the building unless waiver of this requirement is approved by the superintendent or designee.