The Coeur d'Alene School District has agreed to charge tens of thousands of dollars less to a nonprofit to rent school facilities, after negotiating on the district's recently raised rental fees.

As Tesh Inc. could not afford to pay an additional $30,000 to rent Atlas Elementary space for a summer camp program, and because the Coeur d'Alene organization has other resources the school district can use, the district arranged for a non-monetary trade, said Matt Handelman, assistant superintendent.

"We're trying to be responsible stewards of the taxpayers' resources and facilities and money, and at the same time, we're trying to be good neighbors," Handelman said. "Like having ongoing relationships with organizations that have wonderful missions, and sometimes similar and overlapping missions."

Tesh CEO Russ Doumas said Tesh has previously paid the school district about $2,500 to rent Atlas classrooms and outdoor facilities for a 35-day summer camp for students with disabilities.

Doumas admitted he was surprised this month when he was informed the charge would increase this year to $35,000.

"There is a little bit of difference," Doumas said with a chuckle, adding that he had thought an error might had been made.

But the timeframe and use of specific facilities would come to that amount, Handelman had confirmed. The new price tag, he said, was tallied after an updated analysis of Tesh's use, and adapting that to the new fee schedule the district adopted last September.

Fee increases were essential to close the gap between what the district was spending to provide and maintain facilities for rental and what it was charging, Handelman said.

"Part of this is absolutely a sign of the times fiscally," he said, adding that the old fees were far below market value. "We are absolutely a resource of the community, but at the same time there are expenses to hosting people in our facilities and on our fields."

The new fee schedule includes classrooms rented out at $25 or $27 an hour. High school auditoriums can be rented for $30 an hour. Under the previous rate, classrooms and auditorium could be rented for as low as $6.25, which would cover less than three hours use with 25 or fewer people. The highest charge had been $37.50, paying for more than 3 hours use with 100 or more people.

Gyms are now rented at $22 or $27 an hour, up from $10 or $15 an hour. Play fields and ballparks have remained at $1.25 or $3.75 per four hours.

Doumas said Tesh would have to find a new location for its camp, which has been put on at district facilities for more than 10 years, if the district insisted on the new total charge.

"We would not be able to afford it," Doumas said.

The Coeur d'Alene School District agreed to negotiate, said Handelman, because of Tesh's similar education goals.

The two entities arranged for an in-kind trade on Tuesday, in which Tesh would provide space for the district's vocational rehabilitation training, Doumas said.

Otherwise, the school district will pay the amount it was before, he said.

"We're really pleased we were able to resolve it and continue to have our summer program," said Doumas, adding that the camp has about 35 participants who look forward to it every year.

Handelman said the agreement helps both entities' goals.

"The whole idea is of what will be a benefit to us, just like using our space is a benefit to them," he said.

This is not an arrangement the school district can make with many of the 100 entities that rent school facilities, he said.

"It depends on what the organization has to offer. Tesh obviously has a similar mission to ours, in terms of helping people learn," he said.

There haven't been any complaints from other organizations about the fee increase, he said, or at least they "certainly haven't gotten to our level."

Organizers of Panhandle Symphony Orchestra admitted the new fees were an unpleasant surprise.

Although the cost only bumped up from $40 to $55 a week to rent out Woodland Middle School's band room, that adds up for a group dependent on donations that also has bills for performance venues and insurance, said manager Larry Strobel.

"We squawked like crazy and complained and carried on, and it didn't do any good," Strobel said, adding that there is no other location with available music stands, risers and percussion instruments. "I said if there's anywhere else we could go, we would go, and you'd be getting nothing."

Other groups that rent from the district couldn't be reached on Tuesday.

Handelman emphasized that the district is charging what is necessary.

"We're not in the business of trying to gouge anyone," he said. "We're just trying at the very least to cover our expenses."