Since state wide budget cuts have taken over school districts, many schools have found themselves letting go of extra-curricular activities, electives, and even sports teams; in Texas however, districts have taken it upon themselves to find new ways to fund their schools.
Recently, one district has arranged an account with an advertising company that allows them to post advertisements on the sides of buses, rename sports fields, press boxes and even textbook covers. Humble Independent High School located in the prime flight spot near the Bush Intercontinental Airport has even offered their roof up as an advertisement billboard. If a company were to buy into the schools roof all of the airplanes that fly in or out of the airport will be able to see the ad from the air. A local Mazda dealership paid $350,000 for their name to be written across the turf field, as well as $100,000 a GMC Buick dealership spent for the naming rights of the entryway to the stadium.
Although the school is raising more than has been cut from their budget, many concerns have risen about exposing children to too many advertisements, many about fast food. One bus has an advertisement for Chick-fil-A restaurants which some believe may contradict what children are being taught about nutrition in school. School officials are aware of the concerns and have noticed that students are finding the Ad's as fun and say that it gives the different buses an "identity".
How do you think other districts are going to react to this approach to raise money?
