Beachwood City Schools Considering Raising Fees for City

Beachwood City Schools will re-evaluate — and possibly raise — its facilities rental fees for the City of Beachwood.

The move follows the news that the for construction at Beachwood High School.

At Monday’s special meeting of the Board of Education, Superintendent Rich Markwardt said that a study concluded that some of the fees the district charges the city are too low, but that the move is not related to permit fees.

The lease agreement between the district and the city was first adopted in 2010 and extended for one year in September of last year. It expires Dec. 31.

Under that lease, the city pays the district $23,300 monthly for its use of the schools’ athletic facilities, some classrooms and the middle school’s theater.

In the presentation, Paul Cevasco, the business consultant who conducted the study, said that some school districts waive their facilities usage fees in exchange for the city waiving fees for the districts, like permit fees.

“Are we playing this game? Are we getting into this war with the city? Because if we are, then, so be it,” said Board President Beth Rosenbaum.

“I’m of the opinion, personally, that the city should waive our fees, if they could, and I think we need to show them the same kind of respect.”

“This is not an attempt by the schools to come up with money that’s permit related,” said Markwardt. He recommended that the district evaluate the actual use of the facilities by the city, bump up the fees that are too low and consider adopting a common fee structure to enforce for all nonprofit rental.

The district will meet with the city and then present a draft of a lease to the school board in October, said Markwardt.