Hope community PCS - do they host church services on Sundays?

[Anonymous]

I just drive by Hope Community PCS and it appeared that there might be church services being held there. Parking lot and surrounding streets full with parked cars and lots of people all ages dressed to the nines. Perhaps it's a school event but that was not the vibe. What are the rules for subleasing charter school space? Can a PCS do whatever they want with their space, including renting to religious groups?

[Anonymous]

I attend a church that meets in a charter school (not Hope).

[Anonymous]

You hate religion so much that you don't want our schools to help their children by renting out space?

[Anonymous]

This is OP. What the heck is wrong with you PP? I was asking a question about policy. Period. Honestly, I'm not sure how I feel about schools that are supported by public tax dollars renting out space to community groups, particularly religious groups. I'm a Christian, but I'm also an American who has respect for our Constitution and other people who don't have the same beliefs as I do. Soooo, I wanted to ask the question. Not because I necessarily think charters shouldn't be permitted to use their physical space how they wish, but because I want to understand policies for charters as opposed to DCPS. But thanks for jumping to conclusions and trying to shame me and others from having the discussion. I have learned from a lifetime in the Christian church that trying to evoke a chilling effect based on shame and fear is a favorite activity by some supposed followers of Jesus. Think about getting yourself to church.

[Anonymous]

Yes, they can rent the space for church use. It's called community use. The church pays a rental fee as well as any costs for a custodian to be there. Public schools do it all the time. I'm an administrator in Fairfax County, and there is a church at the school where I work right now. Totally legal and not in any violation of "separation of church and state."

We also have community use for basketball teams to practice on Saturdays as well as neighborhood associations to meet from time to time.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks Fairfax person. So if my child's. DCPS rents out space for community use does the school get the funding directly or does it get sent downtown and the school never sees it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks Fairfax person. So if my child's. DCPS rents out space for community use does the school get the funding directly or does it get sent downtown and the school never sees it?

I'm not sure DCPS follows the same policy as other schools. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks Fairfax person. So if my child's. DCPS rents out space for community use does the school get the funding directly or does it get sent downtown and the school never sees it?

I can tell you how it works in FCPS: all of the reservations are made centrally with school coordination. Community groups apply and sign contracts. I am sent a copy. Fees are paid to FCPS and then distributed into my school account. I get a monthly statement showing which part of the funds are to be used for custodial overtime and which parts of the funds are to go into my general account. As a principal, I love community use because it is money that has no strings with it. I have very strict guidelines about how I can use appropriated funds. For example, I cannot buy the teachers donuts for a staff meeting with appropriated funds. But as a boss, I want to do nice things for them. So I use the fees from community use to cover the cost of those donuts. My guess is that there is a similar arrangement in DCPS.

[Anonymous]

It DCPS get the funds directly that would be a great way of adding to our budget. Does anyone have insight about how community use and fees with regard to DCPS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It DCPS get the funds directly that would be a great way of adding to our budget. Does anyone have insight about how community use and fees with regard to DCPS?

Here, you can read for yourself:

http://dcps.dc.gov/DCPS/About+DCPS/Doing+Business+with+DCPS/Use+of+School+Facilities+and+Grounds

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the link.

[Anonymous]

Which Hope campus?

[Anonymous]

I've also seen a church group using Stokes.

[Anonymous]

Kansas Ave

[Anonymous]

We'll it seems like a great way for the schools to gain greater resources...I just hope those resources reach the children