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Education

Should More Companies Advertise On School Campuses?

Should More Companies Advertise On School Campuses?
The San Diego Unified School District is considering whether companies should be allowed to advertise on campuses in exchange for much needed revenue.

The San Diego Unified School District is considering whether companies should be allowed to advertise on campuses in exchange for much needed revenue.

The district could bring in an extra $500,000 if it were to allow advertising on campuses. Some possibilities include logos splashed on school lunch tables, banners and buildings.

The district currently has no policy regarding campus advertising.

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San Diego school trustee John Evans, who is a child psychologist, says he is in favor of keeping schools "commercial-free zones."

“(Our culture) has movies that come out with action figures, a special cookie, bedspreads, and curtains. This is just giving (companies) one more venue for that,” Evans said.

Other trustees worry about who would select the companies and how the advertising would be displayed. The district's central office staff has been stripped down to offer basic services.

Instead of campus-based advertising, the trustees appeared to be leaning toward allowing advertising on the district's website. That could bring in $100,000 a year.

The board is expected to vote on a policy next month.