Performance center fees updated

The Whitefish School District approved a new policy Oct. 9 for the performance arts center at the middle school that seeks to create a clearer rental agreement for the space.

Among the changes is a new user fee schedule for the center.

Under the old policy, users were charged fees based on the nonprofit or commercial status of the group renting the facility, and areas of the building used.

The new policy is still primarily broken down by nonprofit and commercial. However, non-Whitefish nonprofit groups are charged higher use fees.

For example, a Whitefish nonprofit would rent the auditorium for $100 per day, but a non-Whitefish group would pay double that. Under the previous policy, all nonprofits were charged $200 for basic daily use of the auditorium. Additional room or use of light/sound equipment requires additional charges.

Previously, commercial users would have paid $500 for a theater, dance, concert or musical performance, but full use of the auditorium with light/sounds would have been $100 more. Now the basic fee for the auditorium is $300 per day with additional costs for light/sound and other rooms or equipment.

The fee schedule sets a charge for rehearsal use of the space, use of just the lobby, showing of films and for use of rehearsal rooms. There is also a custodial charge for use.

Trustee Ruth Harrison worked on the policy update.

“The goal is to make it more business-like,” she said. “We want it to be easier for the administrators to manage it.”

Harrison said the main users of the center, the Alpine Theatre Project, Whitefish Theatre Co. and Glacier Symphony & Choral have reviewed the changes and have given their feedback.

“The fee schedule is comparable to what they are paying now,” she said.

There is a provision in the policy that allows for groups who are renting the center for six or more days in a row to enter into a separate use agreement with the district based upon days used.