12/31/2004 RECREATION Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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John Williams felt the agreement should be a simple one, and the most important thing is that the two parties communicate. That is what the real issue is. John's experience in the past was that he was responsible for scheduling the building. A master calendar was set up for the whole year. Bob Whritenour agrees that communication needs to be improved. In his view the issues go beyond communication. Mr. Whritenour said that he noticed from the start the excitement because the school would not only be for the children but would be a community facility used by the school and by Leisure Services. We must caution against feeling Leisure Services is an outside organization. We need to develop true partnership. Leisure Services takes a huge chunk of responsibility. Agreement of priority to have facility available for Leisure Services -- that is why there is an office in the new school. Peter Dinizio mentioned the importance of a contract because 5 years from now different people may be in office and holding jobs. The Leisure Services office in the building should be contractual. There was an office in the Middle School, and it was taken over and Leisure Services was without an office. Both Boards have to agree to make a change. The Contract put on the table here is based on Sandwich's. It is the same exact wording that their Community School uses. As far as liability goes, the school falls under the Town's General Liability Policy. It is a Town building. Peter said that this should be ironed out before the building is turned over. Kathy Lynch would like to see the principals continue scheduling the buildings but that something is put into the contract that Leisure Services would have a one or two week notice of a change if something was scheduled. Maureen Paxton wanted to see joint scheduling between Principals and Leisure Services and not give Leisure Services the total burden of scheduling. She feels that the policy in the School Committee manual is very comprehensive and a copy should be sent out to everyone before the Selectmen's meeting on the 29th. Nancy Caffyn mentioned the way Nantucket scheduled all town activities with a main calendar, and it seemed to work out extremely well. Terrie Cook agreed that a simple solution to the problem is having a person with the master calendar for 3 schools. The ultimate responsibility will fall with the principal of each school. Master Calendar is the answer. Gus Frederick feels that scheduling for all three buildings is what he is looking at. Communication will be the key. Gus feels that for example if there was a high school play in February it is scheduled the beginning of the school year and all those dates are filled in and whatever is left -- and there usually is enough--then we are able to schedule our programs. I think working with each principal and trying to establish a master calendar and once the school activities are in then we know what space is available. Mr. Williams mentioned that Facility Requests go through Dr. DeMoura. And he questioned outside activities. Would they go through Dr. DeMoura, the school principal or Gus? Peter Dinizio suggested that the Leisure Service's Director and principals could meet every week and go over scheduling. Leisure Services should take town scheduling.