Schools Allowing Ads To Lessen Budget Cuts

The interiors of 16 schools in Pennsylvania's Bucks County Pennsbury School District will be decorated a bit differently this year: They're the new homes to an anticipated 200-plus advertisements -- some as large as 5'x10' -- that will cover walls, floors, lockers, benches and cafeteria tables, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

The move could bring in $424,000, a much-needed financial boost amid the district's $3 million budget cut, and according to the Inquirer:

The ads must relate to health, education, nutrition, or student safety, and may not directly endorse products. They tout, among other things, reading and outdoor activities (the U.S. Library of Congress and the Ad Council); organizational skills (Post-it Notes), and concussion awareness (Dick's Sporting Goods).

Although Pennsbury's decision to sell ad space in schools may be the first of its kind in Pennsylvania, schools in other states have already taken similar measures to minimize the budget pinch by increasing revenue without raising taxes.

Last month, New Jersey became the first state in the northeast to allow districts to display advertisements on their school buses, noting that districts could earn up to $1,000 per bus by selling ads, The Star-Ledger reported. Other states like Ohio, Utah and Washington had also considered a similar move.

Two years ago, Idaho high school teacher Jeb Harrison started selling ad space on his tests and handouts -- by striking a deal with a local pizza shop.

Florida's Orange County Public Schools have adopted an advertising program that allows marketing in areas including online, on lunch menus, play sponsorships and a parking garage billboard. In about 18 months, the district had made about $270,000, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

While these districts have implemented programs, others are still venturing into the field. Late last month, North Carolina's Guilford County schools discussed at its school board meeting proposals to permit marketing, ranging from ads inside schools to selling naming rights for school stadiums and buildings, WGHP-TV reported.

Comments

[white dude lulz]

05:18 AM on 10/19/2011

Daaaamn, that's some cheap pizza!

[white dude lulz]

05:16 AM on 10/19/2011

Soon, the kids will have to complete a survey before they can receive their tests.

[lefty81]

12:23 PM on 10/18/2011

This is a very clever idea!

[ian0000]

09:14 AM on 10/18/2011

the only reason school districts need to do this is because of budgetary problems brought on by underfunded teacher and other school district employees pensions. if educators dont like it , simply increase the amount they contribute to their health ins and pensions to a % similar to private sector employees

[El Chingaso]

07:40 AM on 10/18/2011

The voters should have a say in such policies. Public school administrators have, at least in an aggregate sense, proven their financial prowess is absolutely sub par. Allowing children in publicly-funded schools to be exposed to more messages from profiteers is simply a cheap trick to cover significant fiscal mismanagement over many, many years. Bad idea, folks.

[Lucy7083]

01:48 AM on 10/18/2011

THIS IS WRONG!!!!! Our schools curriculum and teaching methods need overhaul. We need an educator who is a visionary. We need to stop placing our education system in a difficult place where they find it necessary to sell their integrity to Ad agencies who can and will adulterate the system.

[benji85]

07:37 PM on 10/17/2011

Over saturating people with advertisements stops working after a while. Whoever thought filling a school with ads would work is only going to make their job harder in the future having a bunch of kids who are oblivious to marketing.

[philhellene]

05:46 PM on 10/17/2011

Wait until they start threatening to withdraw their financial support to try to influence what is taught.

[mozartmaid2]

06:22 AM on 10/18/2011

Exactly... it's a slippery slope!

[white dude lulz]

05:17 AM on 10/19/2011

Wow, good call. Two sides to every coin, aye?

[philhellene]

11:05 AM on 10/19/2011

Or worse, use their financial support as leverage to market their products to students.

[cwaged1002]

05:40 PM on 10/17/2011

How sick the USA culture has become.

[WhatDaBleep]

05:36 PM on 10/17/2011

And America and American education will suffer for it. Advertising is Lying! Lies, that is what advertising is. So that is what we are teaching our kids? It's okay to lie? te-publicans and neo-nutzees thinks it okay!

[TheGreatRenewal]

05:34 PM on 10/17/2011

This is what the New Zealand forced schools and Not for profits do ... vie for advertisements from Corporations. This is absolutely not ok.

[Vgman]

05:31 PM on 10/17/2011

I can't wait for the day I go into work and have a series of patches all over my clothing to advertise who pays my salary. America, this is what you wanted and you are about to get it. This is only the beginning.

[breakingpoint]

05:29 PM on 10/17/2011

secede

[mas1956]

05:25 PM on 10/17/2011

Thanks unions.

[cwaged1002]

05:41 PM on 10/17/2011

Thank the Capitalist Pigs!

[mas1956]

09:48 PM on 10/17/2011

snooooze

[grammasher]

07:49 PM on 10/17/2011

You're sick!

[mas1956]

09:50 PM on 10/17/2011

Good debate. I love you too, grandmaster bee.

[maverick9808]

05:21 PM on 10/17/2011

Do the extra revenues pay for courses on the psychological effects of advertising. It was done in the 70's why not now.