PEMBROKE — In an effort to provide Renfrew County youth with even greater access to school facilities for recreational purposes, the Renfrew County District School Board has improved school access through its Community Use of School program.
“The RCDSB encourages access to school spaces outside of school hours for local non-profit community groups,” RCDSB Chair David Shields said. “Our schools are welcoming and inclusive places for community members to gather, volunteer, attend community programs and become physically active.”
Most of our schools are already well used by the public outside of the normal school day. Recent changes to the Community Use of School (CUOS) policy hopes to improve that access and make it more affordable for youth, not-for-profit organizations.
Effective immediately, all seven RCDSB high schools (ADHS, FHS, MCS, MVDHS, OHS, RCI and Valour) will receive four fully subsidized custodial hours on Saturdays for 40 weeks between September and June, excluding Christmas and March breaks. Mackenzie Community School will receive an additional four subsidized hours for the 2015-2016 school year, based on an existing demonstrated need.
The fully subsidized Saturday hours are only available for youth (participants under 18) and not for profit groups.
Beachburg, Killaloe, Westmeath and Palmer Rapids public schools which previously had no available, subsidized community use hours, will receive four hours a week for 40 weeks of fully subsidized community use for community not-for-profit groups.
Mackenzie Community School will be available Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. while all other high schools will be available Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Beachburg and Killaloe public schools will be available Tuesdays from 6 to 10 p.m. while Westmeath and Palmer Rapids public schools will be available Wednesdays from 6 to 10 p.m.
CUOS bookings permits must be registered a minimum of two weeks in advance and cancelled 72 hours in advance of the desired date of use. Please visit rcdsb.on.ca/en/schools/communityuseofschools.asp for further information on the Community Use of Schools program.
