School divisions across the commonwealth find themselves in a scramble to balance budgets in the face of decreased state aid and, in many cases, reduced local contributions. Some are searching for additional streams of revenue.

Michael DuVal, pastor of Journey Church, which meets in a Roanoke movie theater, wants to lease portions of Lord Botetourt High School on Sunday mornings and hold worship services there. He says an arrangement could generate $20,000 annually that the school division could use for educational purposes.

But the Botetourt County School Board may not be interested in cashing in on his proposal.

The board on Thursday will consider policy revisions to discourage the long-term use of school facilities for religious purposes because of it being "inconsistent with the principle of separation of church and state."

The proposed changes address a gap in the policy to address long-term rentals, but schools Superintendent Tony Brads said there is more at stake.

"Our rental fee is so low we won't stand to make very much money," he said.

Under the current policy, the school board charges up to $200 each for the use of the high school's auditorium and cafeteria, which are the spaces DuVal wishes to lease. The cost is for five hours of use a day. Additional fees include custodial services or paying another school employee to supervise the facility.

"Our fees are fairly inexpensive and are intended to be fairly inexpensive for short-term use," Brads said.

The reason for that, he said, is to allow many community organizations to use the facilities. Long-term leases go against that principle.

"If we lock in with somebody, we can't allow another group that wants to have a dinner there because we have it leased out for six months," Brad said.

A one-time extension of six months, for a total of 12 months, is proposed for groups actively seeking a more permanent facility.

Journey Church, which currently holds Sunday morning services at the Valley View Grande 16, purchased 9 acres last fall on Read Mountain Road in the Cloverdale area. But it will be some time before a new church is constructed on that site, DuVal said. The church's current services attract a crowd of about 425 people.

DuVal said his church would like to "adopt" Lord Botetourt High School by donating a sound system, school supplies and volunteer labor hours.

Brads said the proposed school board policy changes are not a direct response to Journey Church, because the school system has yet to receive a formal request from the church to use Lord Botetourt. Brads, however, said he is aware the church has been considering making a request to the school division.

Provisions set forth by the state department of education call for equal access by community groups, whether religious or not.

"If indeed they [the Botetourt County School Board] treat everyone alike, I am completely in support of this," DuVal said of the proposal to limit use to six months. "If they have anyone renting for a longer period, they should have to rent to us."

Of other localities in the Roanoke area, the Franklin County schools approach is most like what Botetourt County is proposing. Franklin County's policy states school facilities are not to be used on a regular basis for church services.

Churches use four schools in Montgomery County for services: Blacksburg Middle, Christiansburg High, Auburn Elementary and Kipps Elementary. The leasing period in Montgomery County is six months, but leases can be renewed. Some churches have been holding services in schools for more than two years, said Dan Berenato, director of facilities for the division.

Bedford County limits the use of school facilities by religious organizations to once per month. Policies in Roanoke, Roanoke County and Salem do not address the use of school facilities by religious organizations.

No action is expected on Botetourt County's proposed changes until the board's April meeting, Chairwoman Kathy Sullivan said.

"For me to make a comment it would be a little premature," she said Tuesday. "For policy changes we do kind of sit on them for a month. That gives us time to ask the right questions so we can make the best decision."

Staff reporter Anna Mallory contributed to this report.