The New Westminster school board is considering new alcohol regulations aimed at bolstering weekend rentals of school district facilities.
On Tuesday, the board’s operations policy and planning committee will vote on whether or not to add guidelines around alcohol consumption at district buildings to its regulations.
“In general, it is not the policy of School District No. 40 (New Westminster) to authorize events that include alcohol in district facilities,” reads one of the proposed additions. “However, it is acknowledged that some user groups, particularly those using District Neighbourhood Learning Centres may want to serve alcohol at events.”
The proposed changes were sparked when district staff began building business plans for its two new Neighbourhood Learning Centres at QayQayt Elementary and Fraser River Middle School, acting associate superintendent Janet Grant told the Record.
The province kicks in up to 15 per cent of free additional community space in new buildings with Neighbourhood Learning Centres, but operational costs fall to the districts.
“We can’t use education dollars to operate the space,” Grant said. “We don’t have the dollars.”
An updated alcohol policy was seen as a way to attract events like weddings and family reunions to district buildings, she said.
“That would bring in a higher rental than the not-for-profits, which are the groups that we want Monday to Friday during the day in a neighbourhood learning centre, delivering the types of programs they do that meet community neighbourhood needs.”
Under the proposed regulations, renters wanting to serve alcohol at their events would have to agree to enforce B.C. liquor laws, secure a temporary liquor licence, have a security plan or pay for school district security, have $2 million in independent liability insurance in place and apply 30 days before their event.
If approved, the new regulations will go to the board May 26 for final approval.
To see the proposed changes, visit district.sd40.bc.ca/node/3648 and click on the operations policy and planning committee’s May 12 agenda.
