Gateway School Board allows Grace Life Church to continue services at high school despite concerns

The Gateway School Board narrowly voted down an administrative recommendation Tuesday to place a temporary moratorium on all facility rentals amid ongoing concerns of spreading covid-19.

The vote, 5-4, means outside groups can continue to rent school district buildings throughout the school year. Those in favor of stopping facility rentals were board members Rick McIntyre, Susan Delaney, Scott Gallagher and Brian Goppman.

The failed moratorium came despite public criticism of Grace Life Church not adhering to social distancing guidelines and mask use during weekly services taking place at Gateway High School’s auditorium.

Grace Life Church got permission to use Gateway High School’s auditorium for a year back in March. The agreement stated the church would pay $130,000 to use the facility every Sunday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. for its 500 to 1,000 congregants.

The start date was pushed back to June 21 because of restrictions in place amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Grace Life Church was not mentioned by name during Aug. 11’s meeting. But it is the school district’s only tenant right now, according to Director of Facilities Robert Brown.

If the moratorium would have been approved, the action would have meant organizations like the YMCA could not have used the building for after-school programming — a fact with which school board President Mary Beth Cirucci took issue.

“We have a distinct group of people in this community that do not have childcare for their kids because they both work and they’re only coming to school two days a week,” Cirucci said. “I’m not willing to give that up for a moratorium when I know that Mr. Brown and his crew are thoroughly cleaning our facilities in the way he’s described to me.”

Brown said his custodial crew has been working overtime to clean classrooms and common areas in school buildings. On the weekends, like on Sunday, Brown said up to two people come to the school to clean the auditorium after it’s been used. And although he did not mention the church’s name, he said the church is cleaning between custodial cleanings.

Superintendent Bill Short said the administration’s recommendation to stop facility rentals came about because he wanted to offer constituents “peace of mind” during the pandemic.

Grace Life Church officials were not immediately available Tuesday night to comment.