G450 – ADVERTISING, SPONSORSHIPS, AND NAMING SCHOOL FACILITIES

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G450 – ADVERTISING, SPONSORSHIPS, AND NAMING SCHOOL FACILITIES

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The purpose of this policy is to provide direction for the appropriate and inappropriate use of advertising or promoting of commercial products or services to students and parents in the schools.

“Advertising” comes in many different categories and forums and is defined as a verbal, written or graphic statement made by the producer, manufacturer, or seller of products, equipment, or services which calls for the public’s attention to arouse a desire to buy, use or patronize the product, equipment, or services. This includes the visible promotion of product logos for other than identification purposes. Brand names, trademarks, logos or tags for product or service identification purposes are not considered advertising.

The Board may permit advertising in Corporation facilities or on Corporation property in the following categories or forums in accordance with the guidelines set forth herein:

A. Product Sales:
1. product sales benefiting a Corporation, school or student activity (e.g., the sale of beverages or food within schools);
2. exclusive agreements between the Corporation and businesses that provide the businesses with the exclusive right to sell or promote their products or services in the schools (e.g. contracts with soda companies);
3. fundraising activities (e.g., short term sales of gift wrap, cookies, candy, etc.) to benefit a specific student population, club or activity where the school receives a share of the profits.
   
B. Direct Advertising/Appropriation of Space:
1. signage and billboards in schools and school facilities;
2. corporate logos or brand names on school equipment (e.g., marquees, message boards or score boards);
3. ads, corporate logos, or brand names on book covers, student assignment books, or posters;
4. ads in school publications (newspapers and yearbooks and event programs);
5. media-based electronic advertising (e.g., Channel One or Internet or web-based sponsorship);
6. free samples (e.g., of food or personal hygiene products).
   
C. Indirect Advertising:
1. corporate-sponsored instructional or educational materials, teacher training, contests, incentives, grants or gifts;
2. the Board approves the use of instructional materials developed by commercial organizations such as films and videos only if the education value of the materials outweighs their commercial nature.
  The films or material shall be carefully evaluated by the school principal for classroom use to determine whether the films or materials contain undesirable propaganda and are in compliance with the guidelines as set forth above.
   
D. Market Research
1. surveys or polls related to commercial activities;
2. internet surveys or polls asking for information related to commercial activities;
3. tracking students’ internet behavior and responses to questions calling for personal identification at one or more websites;
All market research at the school involving students shall comply with Policy H200 – Relations with Special Interest Groups – Surveys and Questionnaires.

The Corporation’s name, students, staff members and Corporation facilities shall not be used for any commercial advertising or otherwise promoting the interests of any commercial, political, nonprofit or other non-school agency or organization, public or private, without the approval of the  Superintendent or designee.

Any commercial advertising shall be structured in accordance with the General Advertising Guidelines set forth below.

General Advertising Guidelines

The following guidelines shall be followed with respect to any form of advertising on school grounds:

A. When working together, schools and businesses must protect educational values. All commercial or corporate involvement should be consistent with the Corporation’s educational standards and goals.
B. The Board reserves the right to consider requests for advertising in the schools on a case-by-case basis.
   
C. No advertisement may be approved which would tend to create a substantial disruption in the school environment or inhibit the functioning of any school.
   
D. No advertisement shall be false, misleading or deceptive.
   
E. Each advertisement must be reviewed in advance for age appropriateness.
   
F. Advertisements may be rejected by the Corporation if determined to be inconsistent with the educational objectives of the Corporation, inappropriate, or inconsistent with the guidelines set forth in this policy.
   
G. All corporate support or activity must be consistent with the Board’s policies prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, or age, and must be age appropriate.
   
H. The Superintendent may require that samples of advertising be made available for inspection.

In addition to this policy, the Superintendent is authorized to prepare administrative guidelines addressing the Criteria for Commercial Messages and the process by which advertising shall be accomplished.

Accounting

Advertising and sponsorship/naming rights revenues must be properly reported and accounted for in the Corporation accounts.

Sponsorship/Naming Rights

The Board permits sponsorship/naming rights of specific Corporation facilities or property by an individual, company, or community-based organization.

Sponsorship is defined as an agreement between the Corporation and an individual, company, or organization in which the sponsoring entity provides financial or service-in-kind support to the Corporation in exchange for recognition within a Corporation facility.

Naming rights is defined as an agreement between the Corporation and an individual, company, or organization in which in exchange for financial contributions the Corporation allows the name of the donor or donor company/organization to be associated with a specific Corporation property or facility.

Sponsorships/naming rights shall not be inconsistent with the goals and purposes of the Corporation. An agreement shall be prepared which outlines the details of the sponsorship/naming rights including but not limited to the following: the term of the sponsorship/naming right, the signage to be used for the recognition or naming, financial contribution or service-in-kind being supplied to the Corporation. The agreement shall be presented to the Board for approval prior to any action being taken to implement the sponsorship/naming right.

All sponsorships/naming rights shall be in accordance with Policy H200.

Naming School Facilities

The Board may name a new school facility or change the name of an existing facility.   When a proposal is made to the Superintendent, the Superintendent or designee will convene a Naming School Facilities Committee comprised of students, teachers, administrators and community members.  The Naming School Facilities Committee will review the proposal and make a recommendation to the Board.

The Board shall not name, re-name, or change the name of any existing school facility for any organization or company involving tobacco, alcohol, firearms, gambling, pornography or other products the Board deems unsuitable for students.

If the Board names a facility in honor of, or in memoriam of an individual (such as the “John Doe Soccer Stadium),” the Board must carefully consider the honoree’s standing in the community and the recommendation from the Naming School Facilities Committee regarding the name change.

Adopted 7/13/16

Revised 9/23/19