Intergovernmental Cooperation:
The Park District Advantage

Taxpayers Will Benefit through
School and Park District Cooperation

by Robert T. Malito

The challenges facing local units of government are formidable and numerous. In a time of growing community problems and shrinking financial support, park districts must intensify their search for innovative and cost effective ways to serve their constituents.

One approach to improve services is the development of intergovernmental cooperation agreements between park districts and school districts.

We, in McLean County, have found that the practices which served us well in the past must now be recast to meet the challenges upon us today.

School/park district agreements can be one answer.

Typically, elementary schools use their facilities from early morning to perhaps 4:30 p.m., five days a week, with occasional evening programs. These school buildings are usually available at night, on weekends and during holiday/summer vacation periods for park district programs. This is the exact time that park districts need facilities for teenage, adult and senior citizen programs.

Our intergovernmental cooperation agreement has lead to an upgraded, over-sized gymnasium in our new elementary school. In our case the park district is paying $318,000 to our school district for a larger gym, storage, extra parking and access to the school district's building. In addition, they are providing playground equipment and a soccer field.

Due to this cooperation, our school district has a larger gymnasium for our students. Likewise, the park district has another facility for recreational programs during non-school hours (Monday-Saturday).

Taxpayers win because quality utilization will be made of the school building throughout the year.

Legal documents are needed to clearly identify responsibilities, time frames, schedules and who pays for what expenses. It will require time, effort and consensus-building. The agreement calls for an annually scheduled meeting between the school principal and a park district official, as well as a mid-year meeting "to work out conflicts."

This school/park district partnership needs a core of school administrators and park district officials who strongly endorse this joint venture and agree to share the risks and benefits. These individuals must be willing to commit themselves to this partnership and be creative with their ideas.

The goal is simple: offer better programs to your students and community at a tax savings. Taxpayers have a right to expect the most for their money and every attempt to eliminate duplication. It is definitely a wise and prudent use of taxpayers' money.

I challenge every park district to investigate intergovernmental projects with other taxing bodies. It is time to change. Be flexible, research this concept and be willing to change. Take a risk and save taxpayers' money!

About the Author
Robert T. Malito is the Superintendent for McLean County Unit District No. 5 in Normal, Illinois.