City approves joint-use agreement with SOCSD

The Starkville Board of Aldermen approved the joint use agreement between the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District and the city for use of school and parks and recreation facilities during its meeting Tuesday.

The board approved the agenda item unanimously.

The Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District approved the joint-use agreement with the city during its meeting last week.

The locations that will be utilized include: Henderson Ward Stewart Elementary School playground and multiuse area, Armstrong Middle School playground and multiuse area, Sudduth Elementary School playground, Overstreet Elementary School playground and park.

For indoor spaces and athletic facilities, residents would contact the city, which would then be directed to the school district for approval.

Mayor Lynn Spruill, who has advocated for the passage of the joint use agreement, said she was pleased to see both boards were comfortable enough that the agreement would best serve the residents of Starkville.

"I think it's a maximum utilization of our various assets both of the city's and of the school district's," Spruill said. "We serve the same constituencies."

Spruill said when the city received its park master plan, experts indicated the city's park land on a per person basis was “less than optimum.”

"I think this gives us the opportunity to begin to rectify that, and bring that more in proportion and offer different options for all of our residents throughout the community," Spruill said.

As for liability, Spruill said if an incident were to occur at one of the joint-use areas, the city would be responsible if it oc-

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