It’s certainly understandable, given the current fiscal crunch, that the Lawrence school district would be considering setting fees for the use of its buildings. But it would be unfortunate if fees cut off access to school buildings by community groups — and especially the city’s Parks and Recreation Department.

Schools should be community gathering places. They are public buildings maintained by taxpayer money, and the public should have reasonable access to them. That being said, non-school groups who use these facilities should be willing to take some responsibility.

In the interest of supporting healthy after-school activities, it might be reasonable to allow youth-related groups like 4-H, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts to use school buildings without charge if they agree to leave the premises as they found them and not cause additional work for janitors or maintenance staff.

With the memory of the recent mercury incident during the Boy Scouts’ Pinewood Derby at Quail Run School fresh in our minds, it also would be reasonable to ask groups to sign some sort of waiver saying they will take responsibility for damage caused by their group.

Many nonyouth groups could be expected to pay the $20-per-hour fee proposed by the district. It’s less than they would have to pay about anywhere else in town, including most city facilities and churches. It’s unfortunate that the only meeting space available in Lawrence at no charge is at the Lawrence Public Library, but utilities and cleaning crews must be paid.

The school district’s plan to charge Lawrence Parks and Recreation for its use of school buildings would be a reversal of city and school policy of trying to coordinate recreational facilities and activities. It also would represent shifting money from one tax-supported pocket to the other, which seems silly and inefficient.

The city, for instance, contributed $200,000 toward the construction of an oversized gymnasium at Langston Hughes Elementary School with the express idea that it also could be used for city activities. The city also has purchased and maintains parks close to several schools, including Prairie Park and Quail Run. Should the city expect the school district to pay something for use of those parks by students?

Fred DeVictor, city parks and recreation director, also aptly points out that the city’s use of school facilities already is offset, at least partially, by the district’s use of the Holcom Sports Complex for Lawrence High baseball and softball games and Lawrence Alternative High School physical education classes.

School gyms and playgrounds benefit no one when they are sitting unused. The city and schools should work together to use those facilities to their fullest extent, not argue over which pot of money will be used to maintain them. Coordinating the use of facilities by both school and city activities benefits taxpayers by reducing the need to build additional facilities.