Should Local Schools Allow Ads on Buses?
Mendham Township has approved the new revenue source. Should we?
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In what is seemingly an annual battle between taxpayer and board of education, additional streams of revenue are welcome by all.
So what about advertising on school buses as a source?
The Mendham Township Board of Education passed a resolution last week which allows businesses to advertise on school buses, and the board is now ready to receive proposals.
"In January, the department of education released regulations authorizing districts, should they choose, to put advertisements, and they're very specific about what types and sizes and things like that, on school buses to generate revenue," Mendham Superintendent Sal Constantino said. "In Mendham we have almost 40 vehicles that run routes for private schools and other school districts, so it's something that we would consider as a way to generate additional revenue."
Constantino said that each ad will require its own individual approval by the board, and that there are no minimum ad requirements. He also stated that projections showed that all the ads together could generate anywhere from $82,000 to $110,000 per year for the district.
So, locally, should Jefferson Township Schools consider this form of revenue stream? What do you think?
Bruce
8:12 am on Monday, March 4, 2013
Buses are painted yellow (and have flashing lights) for a reason... safety! One of my concerns with school buses being used essentially as a moving billboard is safety would be compromised by the distraction caused by ads. So, my opinion is "No!"
Great Gatherings - Planning and Catering
9:17 am on Monday, March 4, 2013
My Opinion is also a no. Billboards and ads can distract a driver who is reading it from the children on or around the buses. What if a particular ad is being read and a child is running across the street to get their bus stop. A driver can not be paying attention to both. Then there is the fact that which ads would be appropriate for all ages, cultures, etc... I say no way, find another way. It would be putting our childrens lives in the hands of a distracted driver. NO