G450 - ADVERTISING, COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES, SPONSORSHIPS, AND NAMING RIGHTS 

The purpose of this policy is to provide direction for the appropriate and inappropriate use of advertising or promoting 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 Board. 

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. 

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 . Accounting 

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

Adopted: March 11, 2020