Sequim School Board meeting

When: 6:30 p.m., Monday, April 18; workshop for superintendent goals and evaluation is 5:30-6:20 p.m.

Where: School district boardroom, 503 N. Sequim Ave.

More info: Call 582-3260.

The cost of renting a Sequim School District facility may soon rise, but not for all users.

The board of directors looks to consider rate changes for commercial and private groups and nonprofits at its April 18 board meeting.

At the board’s March 21 meeting, Director of Business Operations Brian Lewis presented the board with a proposal to raise rates for those users but keep rates static for most student/parent and teacher activities, youth-related nonprofits and social/civic/recreation groups.

Sequim School Board policy is to review and adjust facility fees annually to reflect cost of living increases, but, as Lewis noted, “We have not raised our fees since 2007.”

With an eight-plus-year gap in rate fee changes, Lewis recommended the board consider applying cost of living adjustments to reflect what rates should be and apply them as of Sept. 1, 2016.

That rate bump would be about 16.8 percent for groups that use school facilities for for-profit, private or certain nonprofit uses.

Use of athletic fields for those groups would rise from $50 to $60 while use of the SHS auditorium for a performance would rise from $60 to $70.

Fees for other, predominantly youth-oriented uses help meet costs for custodial and supervision fees, Lewis said, while comparatively higher rates for other groups will help toward upkeep of costs such as sound systems, lighting and the like. The heat pump in the Sequim High School auditorium is a $25,000 cost, he said.

Board director Mike Howe recommended postponing a decision on the rate fee hike until he and others could have a chance to talk to some facility users about the proposal. Board president Bev Horan and board member Heather Short concurred and voted to table the discussion until the April 18 meeting.

See the proposed rental rate fee structure online at www.sequim.k12.wa.us/Page/4619 under “New Business,” item f.