How Far Should School Facility Advertising Go in Brick?
What will recent BOE decision mean for students?
Brick's Board of Education has approved a "marketing deck" for all of the district's schools where private firms could, potentially, place logos or advertisements on school property.
The company, Advantage3, has provided the school district with electronic catalogs of the outdoor and indoor crevices of township schools – as well as school buses – with the hope of attracting sponsors to help provide revenue to the district.
While some of the advertising may look invasive at first glance, it is often flanked by artful school logos and colorful paintings of school mascots. But despite the marketing deck's inclsuive nature – which promotes advertising sponsorship opportunities on school lockers, trophy cases and cafeteria seats – school officials said they won't allow the township's schools to become a virtual billboard.
"I can't imagine the students walking through the school and seeing every locker with someone's logo on it," said Brick resident Vic Fanelli.
"Each individual contract for advertising has to be approved by the board," replied Business Administrator Jim Edwards.
The marketing deck provides for most traditional forms of advertising opportunities, including signs at sports fields and other outdoor, public areas.
"The purpose of the marketing deck … is so Advantage3 can move ahead and start to sell these advertising spaces," Edwards said.
Local, regional and national advertisers will be sought by the company, he added. The marketing decks are only a preview of potential space in the district, he said.
Certain heavy traffic signs, including sponsorship of Brick Memorial High School's main sign on Lanes Mill Road, will receive 630,000 impressions – or views by the public – each month. The naming rights for that sign would garner $150,000 according to the price listed in the marketing materials.
All of the marketing decks are available for the public to view on the meeting agenda under the 'Operations' portion.
"From there, the next step is that Advantage 3 can go out to advertising agencies and say, 'these are the spaces that Brick Township has available, which ones are you interested in?'" Edwards said.
bayboat
5:59 am on Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Brick Schools..sponsored by Nike. Not digging it.
Sean Conneamhe
6:06 am on Tuesday, February 21, 2012
"Such outdoor signs would be in violation of the Township Code."
Glenn
7:33 am on Tuesday, February 21, 2012
How about the Gerber Primary Care Center? lol.
Glenn
7:35 am on Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Or Bricktuckey Fried Chicken Memorial High School?
Big Daddy
12:41 pm on Tuesday, February 21, 2012
LOL!
dorothyr
8:23 am on Tuesday, February 21, 2012
i remember years ago when we tried to use a pamphlet about traffic safety with our third grade classes but couldn't because the insurance co. who provided them free had their name on one of the pages.
Bricktown Lew
10:14 am on Tuesday, February 21, 2012
I can just see it now: the high school sponsored by some company that sickens the kids with their products, but puts money in pockets. Hmmm, how about "The McDonalds Education Center?" Or "The Wendy's Arena of Education?" Help! Mrs. Obama!! : )
Ken
12:10 pm on Tuesday, February 21, 2012
She's the last person in the world I would call on
JHill
10:16 am on Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Great idea but all of the money generated should be earmarked for capex improvements since the schools are falling apart and they are the first thing cut when budgets get voted down every year.
Brick resident82
6:36 pm on Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Great Idea ..as long as the monies goes to the proper improvements..I agree its a great idea.and the signage is kept professional..
Bricktown Lew
10:16 am on Tuesday, February 21, 2012
If McDonalds were to sponsor our school, would we be changing the team names to the "Brick Macs???"
Big Daddy
12:42 pm on Tuesday, February 21, 2012
The "Memorial McNuggets".
Jerry Belle
10:32 am on Tuesday, February 21, 2012
If the monies from sponsorship(s) were used only for school improvements (e.g. roofs, boiler systems, furnaces, windows, lighting, etc...) then the matter should seriously be considered. However, if the monies could be used, even remotely, for other general purposes (i.e. patronage/nepotism hirings, raises, etc...) then the advertising should not be permitted.
Ken
12:10 pm on Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Good answer Jerry
Joseph Woolston Brick
10:55 am on Tuesday, February 21, 2012
OK if you want to do this, then I would put in a stipulation that the sponsor would have to be a mom and pop style operation, a Brick owned facility and not a national sponsor, something like Brick Hardware or Liu's Kitchen...the national chains get enough ads, time to let our local business people have a go at it.
Jerry Belle
11:00 am on Tuesday, February 21, 2012
I like the thought, but I don't see local mom & pop operations ponying up $150,000 for naming rights for a sign outside the school.
Jersey Girl
4:20 pm on Tuesday, February 21, 2012
I think for once we need to stop and look at all areas of this proposal. I don't mind the sponsoring if there are no strings attached. I.e. like when coke had signs we could only use coke products even if it were a class thing. Have the revenue for school renovations ONLY. It would save the tax payers and help our schools. We as a town could really use this.
Anthony
6:05 pm on Tuesday, February 21, 2012
I'm all for it. Anything to get more money for school repairs. If you haven't set foot in BTHS in the last 10-15 years, you really have no idea how bad it has gotten in there.
Bricktown Lew
8:52 pm on Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Wasn't there a Simpsons episode about the school being "sponsored?" Oh wait, I think they discovered oil under the school and the oil company "sponsored" the school to put up oil rigs!! : ) Seriously, if there were significant and sizable improvements to the school and it wouldn't become a "corporate shrine," then it would be something to be seriously considered.