By FULLER ROYAL

The Columbus County Board of Education approved several changes in its fee structure for the use of school facilities by the general public during its Jan. 9 meeting.

Among those changes is the requirement that all fundraising activities have police protection. Each school principal will arrange for law enforcement officers to be present. The sponsoring group is responsible for the payment of $15 per hour with a three-hour minimum. Officers will be paid upon their arrival.

Principals also reserved the right to require any group to have police protection if he or she deems it necessary.

Another change involves the use of any facility by an individual or group that will profit from the event. The board approved a minimum fee of $500 per day for the use of any one facility.

In addition to that fee, a supervisory service fee of $18 per hour per person must be paid and janitorial service must be paid for at $18 per hour per person.

If using one of the high school’s auditoriums, any group using the sound and lighting systems must compensate a school-provided light and sound technician at the hourly rate of $18.

The board also limited the use of the auditoriums for funerals.

Only funerals of students or staff members may be conducted in the auditorium on a school day and only after school hours.

The facility can be used for funerals of community members on days that are not school days or workdays for staff.

As for the community’s use of facilities, the following rates apply:

There is no charge for the use of the athletic fields at the elementary, middle or high schools.

The elementary and middle school auditoriums are $20 an hour, while the high school auditoriums have been increased to $43 per hour.

Elementary and middle school gyms have risen to $42 per hour. High school gyms are now $58 per hour.

Cafeterias at the elementary and middle schools remain at $20 per hour while the high school cafeterias remain at $25 per hour.

Classroom fees at all schools are $25 per night. The use of the school piano is $25 per event at all school.