Letters to the Editor
Letter to the Editor | Is that discount available to everyone?
I was surprised to learn that the Peninsula School Board recently voted 4-1 to lease half of a portable building at Discovery Elementary School to Olympic Civic Services for Harbor Senior Connections for just $50 per month.
I want to be clear: I support programs and gathering spaces for seniors. They are an important part of a healthy community. My concern is not with the organization or the people it serves. My concern is the striking disparity in what different community organizations are asked to pay for access to publicly owned school facilities.
For years, I operated a youth basketball feeder program serving local students and families. Like many youth sports organizations in our community, we relied on Peninsula School District facilities for practices. We paid thousands of dollars each month during our season to rent district gym space. Those costs ultimately had to be passed along to families through registration fees, while we worked hard to provide scholarships so that cost would not prevent children from participating.
I understand the district’s explanation that the Discovery portable is already partially occupied by another district program and that allowing Harbor Senior Connections to use the remaining space during normal operating hours creates few additional utility or custodial costs. That is a reasonable distinction from evening and weekend gym rentals.
But $50 per month, or just $600 per year, for dedicated recurring use of district property still raises a reasonable question: If the district is willing to provide substantially discounted space to organizations because of the community benefit they provide, what opportunities exist for other community-serving organizations?
The district’s own facility-use policies specifically recognize nonprofit community youth organizations, including AAU programs, as community users of school facilities. Youth sports, arts organizations, Scouts, enrichment programs and other groups serving local children and families provide significant public benefit as well.
This should not become a debate about seniors versus children. Both deserve community support.
Instead, I hope the Peninsula School Board will explain the criteria used to determine when a community organization qualifies for nominal or subsidized use of district property, whether those opportunities are available to other nonprofits, and how those decisions are made consistently and transparently.
Public school facilities are taxpayer-funded community assets. If the district has underused space that can benefit our community at little additional cost, that is worth exploring. But those opportunities should be transparent and equitable so that all community organizations understand what is available and how they may qualify.
Supporting seniors and supporting children should not be competing priorities. Fairness and transparency should apply to both.
Amanda Babich
Gig Harbor