(8) The state board of education shall promulgate rules authorizing local boards of trustees to sell advertising space on school buses. Such rules shall provide for the safe placement of such advertising and shall provide for reasonable restrictions on advertising content.
Idaho’s Senate passed a bill (S1111) Tuesday that will allow advertising on school buses. Like many laws passed in Idaho, this one raises more questions than it provides answers. For instance, nothing in the language of the bill addresses the issue of private school bus companies posting ads on their buses and keeping the revenue.
BILLBOARD or BUS RIDE?
We find it sad that in the zeal to find revenue, schools are indirectly using their students to raise money. Far from selling candy bard door-to-door, students need to ride buses will create mobile billboards worth hundreds of thousands of dollars if the Meridian School District’s claims are accurate. The district owns the buses and they say as much as $750,000 could be raised from advertisers–although the legislation provides no guidelines as to where the money would go.
In fact, absent any rules to the contrary, the ad money could go to teacher salaries, sports, or field trips. Which begs the even bigger question: What about First Student, the private firm contracting with Boise School District or any other private carrier? A manager at First Student declined to talk with the GUARDIAN about the issue, saying they would follow the wishes of the Boise School District.
A spokesperson at the State Board refused comment as well saying, “We have not established a position on the bill.” If it passes, there won’t be any choice. The law will mandate that rules will come from the top down. Here are some items for the Board to consider if the bill makes it through the House:
–Will school districts need to hire “account execs to sell ads?”
–Will buses be billboards for condom ads (they teach sex ed in classes)?
–Do private carriers need permission of the district to sell ads?
–Will routes be set to get maximum exposure for ads?
–Will lighted signs like those of pizza delivery rigs be allowed?
–Will there be ratings periods for bus ads like TV “sweeps”?
–Will the State Board hire auditors to monitor ad content and direct the cash flow?
–Will school districts need to hire “account execs to sell ads?”
–Will buses be billboards for condom ads (they teach sex ed in classes)?
–Do private carriers need permission of the district to sell ads?
–Will routes be set to get maximum exposure for ads?
–Will lighted signs like those of pizza delivery rigs be allowed?
–Will there be ratings periods for bus ads like TV “sweeps”?
–Will the State Board hire auditors to monitor ad content and direct the cash flow?
We can see the “naming rights” coming up next, based upon the success of high school athletic teams. Also, it won’t be long before the sharp ad sales execs come up with the idea of selling ad space on the INSIDE of the bus aimed at the kids
I can see it now..ads just like the old time buses had only this time it will be for condoms, birth control pills, Acylovir (herpes drug). Who gets the money the owners of the buses or the school district? I can see the money going to the district as a slush fund for junkets (trips) all over the place to Hawaii, the Caribbean and Europe for "special people" in the district offices.
ReplyDeleteThis leads me to another question..who gets to dough from the soda machines in all of our schools?
Don't know, but there is a state law that says the commission for the blind gets first dibs on putting vending machines in all public buildings and nobody can compete against them.
ReplyDeleteare these machines run by the blind? Where are the profits going?
I say we rent out advertising space on "sandwich boards", manned by students that do not appreciate the heavy taxes, paid by the beleaguered tax payer. These children are wasting the hard earned tax money, by flunking out and doing less than they are capable of.
ReplyDeleteMrs. Spink
What a lot of people do not understand is Idaho is broke..no more rainy day funds to backfill the shortage of cash.
ReplyDeleteMr. Luna's one fault with the reform package was to not get the issues out and in front of people early on in the process. He is quite correct in saying he is out of options and anyone with a better plan please step forward.
The notion of getting rid of incompetent teachers is also appealing but the elimination of collective bargaining is not a good thing.