By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — Never underestimate the power of Girl Scouts.
In the wake of Lynnfield Girl Scouts raising concerns last month about the School Department charging each Scout a $30 fee in order for troops to hold meetings in classrooms, the School Committee agreed to scrap that fee during a Nov. 1 meeting.
The School Committee approved Policy KF last spring in order to raise additional revenue for the School Department.
“At our last meeting, we agreed to revisit the fee schedule in the Use of School Facilities Policy over the course of this year,” said School Committee Vice Chair Stacy Dahlstedt, who serves on the Policy Subcommittee. “To help the Lynnfield Girl Scout troops plan their meetings, we wanted to expedite the review of the fees that pertain to the renter class under which they fall. We recognize that the Girl Scouts are a unique organization in terms of the numerous community service projects they participate in, and their significant civic involvement.”
Dahlstedt said the Policy Subcommittee revised the Class 2 rental class for nonprofit organizations.
“All Lynnfield youth, non-athletic, nonprofit civic organizations that are service-oriented will be exempt from facility fee charges under the condition that the spaces are left clean and returned to how they were found,” said Dahlstedt while reading the policy update. “We have had several conversations with Diane Courtney, the Lynnfield Girl Scouts’ service unit coordinator, who has assured us that she will be the point person should any issues arise with the conditions of the school spaces after being used by Girl Scout troops. We are confident that the troops will abide by their motto of leaving every place better than they found it.”
School Committee Chair Rich Sjoberg, who also serves on the Policy Subcommittee, thanked Courtney, troop leaders and the individual Girl Scouts who aired concerns about the $30 fee.
“All of you showed what it means to be a Girl Scout,” said Sjoberg. “I have a daughter who was a Girl Scout, and I fully appreciate what the Girl Scouts bring to young women and young girls. We do our best here when we work on policies, and sometimes there is an I that needs to be double checked before we dot it. That is what we have done here.”
School Committee member Phil McQueen agreed.
“I don’t think the intention of this policy is to nickel and dime the Girl Scouts of Lynnfield because it seems as though the Girl Scouts of America already do that with their various fees,” said McQueen. “I was generally shocked when I learned that Girl Scouts are not allowed to sell anything other than cookies and how little Girl Scouts get from selling the cookies, and how much the Girl Scouts of America get from all the fees that go to this large nonprofit organization. I think this is a very sensible revision.”
School Committee member Jamie Hayman said he supported the proposed revision to the school facilities rental policy. He also commended Courtney and Lynnfield Girl Scouts for bringing the issue to the board’s attention.
“Thank you for modeling what we want our students to do,” said Hayman. “If there is something not right, advocate for it and make the case. I think this is in line with everything we have talked about.”
School Committee member Kate DePrizio, who is also a Girl Scout troop leader, said she was impressed by the Girls Scouts’ “advocacy.” However, she expressed concerns about the Class 2 fee revision.
“My concern is there have been issues with classrooms at both Summer Street and Huckleberry Hill,” said DePrizio. “I would have preferred seeing a custodial fee to cover that to ensure that we are being protective of Lynnfield Public Schools. I agree that Girl Scouts make the world a better place and everything they touch is better for it. I don’t want to nickel and dime them, but I think it would be protective that we have a custodial fee to cover those things.”
Sjoberg said Policy KF already addresses DePrizio’s concerns.
“If there is a custodial fee that needs to be incurred by a youth group, that bill will be passed along to that group,” said Sjoberg. “We have had refreshed and renewed conversations with troop leaders. Diane Courtney will be our point person if there is an issue with one of our buildings. If a custodial fee would be incurred, we would certainly let her know and it will be taken care of. That is already included in the overall policy.”
Courtney thanked the school board for agreeing to waive the facility rental fee for Girl Scouts and other nonprofit youth groups.
“As townwide volunteer coordinator for the Lynnfield Girl Scouts, troop leader and proud mother of two Girl Scouts, I’m thrilled with the School Committee’s decision to revise Policy KF,” said Courtney in an email sent to the Villager. “On behalf of our 147 Lynnfield Girl Scouts and their families, I would like to express my sincere thanks to the members of our School Committee for exempting our scout troops from LPS fees for meetings held at our public schools. We appreciate the careful and thoughtful attention they paid to our situation. School Committee Chair Rich Sjoberg emphasized that the civic responsibilities of the Girl Scouts made a considerable impact on his decision to waive fees for the Girl Scouts. This recognition of the Girl Scouts’ community service efforts and civic responsibilities will be a great source of inspiration and pride for all of our Girl Scouts. I would also like to thank Centre Congregational Church once again for their generosity and willingness to provide us with meeting space free of charge.”
The School Committee did not make any changes in regards to school gymnasium rental fees. Spearfields Lane resident Jim Crawford recently criticized the school board for implementing a $250 per hour fee for people who want to rent gyms in order to play pickup basketball games.
While the School Committee will be approving the revised school facilities rental policy at it’s next meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 14, the committee agreed to let Girl Scout troops start booking classroom space so they can hold meetings.
Sjoberg said the School Committee will be reviewing Policy KF at the end of the academic year.
“We will take a look at this policy at the end of the school year to see where we have fallen and where we landed with other parts of it,” said Sjoberg.