Mississippi § 37-171-7 - Shared use agreements with community organizations and local governmental agencies.

§ 37-171-7. Shared use agreements with community organizations and local governmental agencies.

School districts are encouraged strongly to enter into shared use agreements with community organizations and local governmental agencies. Local government entities are expressly authorized to enter into such shared use agreements and/or expend public funds and/or to use public labor and/or equipment and/or commodities in furtherance of the purpose of such agreements. The State Department of Education, in consultation with the State Department of Health, shall develop a best practices tool kit relating to shared use agreements for school districts. This tool kit must include: Information outlining liability protections for both the school district and school district employees for injuries resulting from community use of school property or facilities for purposes of recreation or sport during nonschool hours; Model shared use agreement language; A list of technical assistance resources available for the school district to promote community recreational use of school property or facilities during nonschool hours; A list of potential community partners for shared use agreements; and A list of any grants or funding opportunities available to school districts to promote community recreational use of school property or facilities during nonschool hours. The tool kit must be posted on the State Department of Education and State Department of Health websites. The State Department of Education shall review the information required by this section no less than every two (2) years and shall update the information as necessary. The State Department of Education shall provide a link on the department’s website to any school district policies or procedures that promote community recreational use of school property or facilities in order to encourage information sharing among the school districts. Each school district, in consultation with the school health council, must address community recreational use of school property or facilities during nonschool hours.