Briarcliff Heights Community Action Group

Several School Board Policies Violated by Lease to T-Mobile

In their complicity with private companies like T-Mobile the DeKalb County School Board has of course stepped outside their purview — but in doing so they’ve even run afoul of their own posted policies.  If the School Board can put a potentially dangerous 150′ cell tower 192′ feet from the front door of a school for special needs children, what else can they do with public property without our knowledge or notice?

Board Policy: Use of School Facilities[1]

“For-profit organizations may not use school facilities or fields for commercial purposes, except in circumstances where activity fees are collected for after-school educational programs or approved athletic activities.”

“Approved Facility Use Applications and Agreements for continuous use of school facilities or fields by a requesting organization may not exceed a time frame of one school semester or the summer months in which school is not in session.”

“No construction shall be made on school property by any group, nor any alterations made to existing school facilities.”[2]

Proposed Revisions to Policy that are currently open for public comment:[3]

“Only the following outside organizations shall be eligible to apply for use of school facilities: (1) Non-profit organizations that are based in the District and whose members are mostly District residents; (2) Governmental agencies located in the District or serving District residents; (3) Businesses located in or serving the District, but only for school or community oriented purposes; and (4) Organizations currently approved by the Georgia State Board of Education to serve as Supplemental Educational Services (“SES”) providers to District students and are currently under contract with the District to provide SES to eligible District students, but only for the purpose of providing SES to such students.”

“Any use of school facilities by outside organizations must be consistent with the Board’s policies and administrative regulations, must not involve unlawful conduct, and must be acceptable to the school principal.”

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