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The Southern Crescent Lightning has a place to play, and by Monday officials with the new minor league pro basketball franchise hope to have a team in place for next Friday's season opener with the Rome Gladiators.

This week, the Fayette County Board of Education approved 4-1 to a rental agreement with the Peachtree City-based team to play 10 home games at Starr's Mill High School. Greg Powers voted against the deal, but several members expressed hesitation about the contract.

Superintendent John DeCotis explained that the contract itself was no different than if any outside group sought to rent school facilities, but that the Lightning management had gone above and beyond the call in providing extra incentives and funding for the school sytem.

The terms call for the Lightning to lease the gym for a minimum of four hours per day on the dates of the 10 scheduled home games, from 6-10 p.m., at the sum of $42 per hour. That's a minimum of $168 per night, or $1,680 for the 10 home games.

Additionally, the school district will bet 10 percent of the revenue from all actual paid ticket sales and 10 percent of concession sales. The take from concessions would rise to 15 percent if school personnel are used to man the concession stand. The Lightning will be providing all the products necessary for the concession stand, and has agreed to an exclusive contract to sell Coca-Cola products only, which the school district already has committed to.

Further, DeCotis said the Lightning will donaote $2,000 to Starr's Mill High to cover the cost of gym maintenance and any wear and tear that might occur.

Board member Lee Wright wanted to know if there was an "out" clause in case the team failed to meet the board's expectations. DeCotis said the terms of the contract were clear enough that violating any of them could terminate the deal.

Janet Smola said she had been receiving strong encouragement from the community to support the arrangement, but said the board had no way of knowing how big the turnouts for the games might be and had to accept some liability for whatever might happen.

The team will have to provide proof of insurance before it can start the season, DeCotis said.

Marion Key wanted assurances that the school district wouldn't be subsidizing the team in any way.

"I want to make sure we are getting back into our coffers what this is costing us," she said. "I have a problem allowing a for-profit business to use our facilities if our expenses aren't being met."

DeCotis said there was no way to tell yet, but "if this was any other organization, we wouldn't be asking for a percentage of the ticket sales."

"I would say they are being charged their fair share and above, plus some," said DeCotis.

A final free-agent camp to recruit players is scheduled for this weekend. The team has set a press conference for Monday to announce the team members and preview the season.