Community Recreation in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Sport and Recreation
Commission
In 1993 the Nova Scotia government began to implement a Policy on Community Use of Schools which builds upon the Nova Scotia tradition of community schools." Community Use of Schools provides for the use of the physical plant and equipment by the community for general recreational purposes. Community Schools as implemented in Nova Scotia relates to the extension of the educational process into the whole
community. The Policy on Community Use of Schools outlines the roles and responsibilities of all the partners involved in a Joint Use Agreement, the formal agreement outlining the terms and conditions of the arrangement.
This publication provides the basic information required to maximize the new opportunities and potential that arise when a community uses its important school resources for recreation as well as for education.
In the past, communities have built independent recreation facilities, which in many cases have duplicated facilities and resources available in schools. As costs of constructing and operating facilities become an important focus, such duplication must be eliminated.
Two pilot projects, Tallahassee Community School in Eastern Passage and Forest Heights Community School in Chester have amply demonstrated that the school board, the municipality, and the community itself all benefit when schools are designed and constructed with community recreation, as well as education needs in mind.
It is the policy of the government of Nova Scotia that school capital construction projects be planned, designed, constructed, and managed for community use, without compromising the educational function of the facility.
An agreement will be drawn up to formalize arrangements between the school board, the municipality, and the government of Nova Scotia on the design, construction, and use of the proposed facilities.
The government of Nova Scotia will encourage school boards and municipalities to formalize agreements for the community's use of existing educational and recreational facilities.
The school board will determine the need for school facilities.
The municipality will determine the need for additional community facilities in any school capital construction project.
The Department of Education will pay the capital costs of educational facilities in accordance with standards established for the approved capital construction project.
The municipality will be responsible for the capital costs of any non-education requirements. Any provincial funding for non-education facilities will be coordinated by the Nova Scotia Sport and Recreation Commission.
I . Before any specific joint project is initiated, it is beneficial for the municipality to have in place some strategies and policies. These include:
a) effective working relationships and/or partnerships with any organization in its community involved . with delivery of recreation services, e.g., school boards, other municipalities, community and sport organizations, etc.
b) an assessment of the community’s program and facility needs, particularly those that may be appropriate at a school facility.
c) an established recreation committee/commission.
2. The provincial Policy on Community Use of Schools requires that, before preparing an application for new school construction, the school board initiate discussions with the municipal units supporting the school board to determine whether or not the municipal units wish to incorporate recreation/community facilities into the design of the school building.
This will trigger other requirements from the municipality, depending, to a certain extent, on the municipality’s desire to become involved.
a) The municipal units will provide a response to the school board, indicating whether or not they are interested in incorporating
recreation/community facilities in the design of the new school.
If there is interest, the municipality will prepare and submit a full proposal.
b) Before the proposal is submitted, the municipal unit(s) will consult with the Nova Scotia Sport and
Recreation Commission on planning and preparing the proposal.
c) The municipality will prepare and submit their proposal to the school board. The proposal must identify the type of facility, sources of support for capital and operating costs, and the municipality's willingness to enter into a joint use agreement with the school board.
The municipality's role will be considerably simplified if basic planning is already being undertaken on an ongoing basis.
d) The municipality will be required to become actively involved in the various committees, working groups, management committee, etc.. that will be responsible for drawing up a Joint Use Agreement
e) Finally, the municipality will be involved in the implementation of the Joint Use Agreement by participating in the management of the new joint use school.
The Joint Use Agreement is the keystone to successfully implementing shared use of school and community facilities.
Not only should the agreement clearly delineate each party's rights and responsibilities, it should also be a method whereby potential problem areas can be dealt with, in advance, in a mutually acceptable way.
A Joint Use Agreement as applied to Nova Scotia Community Use of Schools is "a legally binding mutual agreement between a municipality(ies) and a school board which sets out the terms and conditions for the operation and management of a school facility for both educational and recreational use.'
Following is a listing of the types of components that should be dealt with in a Joint Use Agreement. This list is not intended to exclude other components.
- Why
The basis of the agreement
- Capital cost
Itemized list
Costs
Sources of financing
- Municipal rights
- Management
I . Community Use
Committee/Management Committee (by-laws, etc.)
2. Community Use
Coordinator/Recreation Programmer (terms and conditions)
3. Principal's role
* Conditions of usage
Policies
Users other than the municipality Compliance with by-laws, etc. Equipment
* Liability
Shared liability
Insurance
* Custodial
Conditions
Union contracts
* Clerical
* User fees
* Supervision
* Ownership
* Amendment to the agreement/dispute resolution
* General
The Nova Scotia Sport and Recreation Commission aims to maximize the use of school facilities by the community through the design, construction, placement and operation of such facilities in cooperation with other provincial and/or municipal government agencies. This ensures that expenditures for public facilities are made effectively.
To assist in implementing the policy of the Government of Nova Scotia that school capital construction projects be planned, designed, constructed, and managed for community use without compromising the educational function of the facility
1. Inform municipalities about the process.
2. Help resolve legal and other barriers
3. Assist in the assessment of recreation facility needs
4. Provide technical advice on community use of schools.
5. Accept, in November of each year, applications for capital grants for community use of schools projects.
To encourage school boards and municipalities to formalize agreements for community use of existing educational and recreational facilities.
I .Educate municipal authorities about the benefits and methods of development of joint use agreements.
2. Require capital grant applications to demonstrate that they can't access appropriate school facilities.
3 . Continue to participate in the Interdepartmental Joint Committee on Community Use of Schools with the Department of Education.
4. Liaise with government and non-government agencies to promote and further joint use of schools.
5. Participate in any municipal initiative to develop a Joint Use Agreement.
6. Help resolve legal and other barriers.
7 . Financially support research and planning for issues and strategies affecting joint use agreements.
8. Consider school board capital grant applications for projects that meet community recreation needs, providing there is a Joint Use Agreement.
For further information, contact the regional office of the Nova Scotia Sport and Recreation commission for your area.
Cape Breton Region
Provincial Building
Prince Street
Sydney, Nova Scotia
B1P 5LI
Phone: 563-2380
Fax: 563-0501
Central Region,
Halifax, Dartmouth, Halifax County)
45 Alderney Drive
Suite 813
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
B2Y 2N6
Phone: 424-7622
Fax: 424-0600
Fundy Region
(Counties of Cumberland
and Colchester and Municipality of Hants East)
Victoria Court
14 Court Street
Truro, Nova Scotia
B2N 3H7
Phone: 893-9487
Fax: 893-61 08
Highland Region
(Counties of Guysborough,
Antigonish, and Pictou)
257 Main Street
Antigonish, Nova Scotia
82G 2C4
Phone: 863-7380
Fax: 863-7477
South Shore Region
(Counties of Yarmouth, Shelburne,
Queens, and Lunenburg)
99 High Street
Suite 200
Bridgewater, Nova Scotia
B4V 2X6
Phone: 543-5000
Fax: 543-0676
Valley Region
(Municipalities of Hants West
and Clare; Counties of Annapolis,
Kings, and Digby)
Town Office Building
I00 King Street
Windsor, Nova Scotia
BON 2TO
Phone: 798-5794
Fax: 798-2676