Nov 3, 2009 4:05 pm US/Central
Local Districts Considering School Bus Advertising
NORTH TEXAS (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
Many North Texas school districts are dealing with budget shortfalls and now some are looking at a new and different way to make money.
Soon, yellow buses could carry more than just students. Schools across North Texas, including Webb Elementary in Arlington, are considering putting advertisements on the sides of school buses to raise cash.
With a budget deficit of $12 million, the Arlington school district is exploring the advertising option as a way to cut down some red ink.
Some Arlington parents support the ad idea. "I figure if it's a decent, reputable business and it helps the schools, it's a good thing," father Chris Floyd said.
Parent Eldridge Walton said, "We need it, we need all the advertisement to help the kids."
Dallas County operates buses for 10 North Texas school districts and officials there are also considering the advertisements. Texas Transportation Code allows for advertising on school buses if it doesn't distract from the effectiveness of safety warning equipment.
"We will choose those categories and ads that anyone would feel comfortable having a student read," explained Deanne Hullender with Dallas County schools.
School officials say they will be choosy about what kind of ads to place on the buses, so you won't see ads for alcohol, cigarettes or even unhealthy foods. "We are really trying to have nutrition be a high priority in all schools," Hullender said. "So, we probably won't be putting French fries and advertise fried foods on our buses."
If a contract is approved, the ads could begin appearing on some buses this spring. Dallas County owns a total of 1,650 buses.
There isn't a lot of data on how much money schools can make from the ads, since few districts have done it.
Officials with the Arlington ISD say they're in the negotiation stages. The district owns 223 school buses.
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