Should Local Schools Allow Ads on Buses?
Mendham Township has approved the new revenue source. Should we?
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 Hopatcong and Sparta schools consider this form of revenue stream? What do you think?
STATE PARK
10:37 am on Monday, March 4, 2013
sure the towns are broke
Joeysguy
10:37 am on Monday, March 4, 2013
I would say no! Drivers don’t need more distractions!
Observer
10:37 am on Monday, March 4, 2013
It's not as simple as yes or no, unlike some towns/districts that own, operate, and have completecontrol over their school busing services, Hopatcong contracts that service to Byram Bus. Which, for many old timers, is another story!
Frazure
10:37 am on Monday, March 4, 2013
Hopatcong contracts out the bulk of it's transportation needs and owns very few buses directly, which means a third party will want to share in the revenue and also govern the parameters. But, if it can be worked out, why not expand the revenue stream in this fashion? Aren't ads sold on the athletic field?