Churches and certain commercial organizations will be allowed to rent space in Harford County schools for only five years each, after the Board of Education passed new time limits this week.
Prompted by churches that would “temporarily” use school facilities every week for up to nine years, the board created new limits on outside groups using school facilities that would restrict them to five years in the schools and subject them to yearly reviews.
Several groups, including eight small churches, rent out Harford schools while they seek a more permanent home elsewhere, Assistant Superintendent for Operations Joseph Licata said. However, some have begun to overstay their welcome, straining school services and putting extra wear and tear on facilities.
“In many cases, because the price is right, they have no incentive to leave,” Licata said.
The schools currently charge about $25 a week for four hours? use of a classroom, or up to $250 for an auditorium ? plus the costs for custodial staff and utilities. However, Licata said, some schools were running out of staff willing to work six or seven days a week.
Though imposed mostly because of churches, the limits would also apply to other commercial groups like semi-pro teams renting stadiums, tax services renting computer labs or daycare providers, board attorney Patrick Spicer said.
“If I was at four and a half years, I?d feel differently at this point, but since I?ve got three and a half to go, I can look at it as a goal,” said Larry Sharrow of Real Life Church, which has rented Emmorton Elementary for nearly two years. The upside of the policy would be that it would encourage turnover and allow more churches to use the schools, he said. However, Sharrow cautioned that not every church could find its own space within five years.
“It can take eight, nine, 10 or 12 years to find something you can afford,” he said.
School Board Member Lee Merrill attempted to push the limit back to 10 years, but his motion received no support.
