NCSD completes policy for outside advertisers

The Newton Community School District Board of Education had one more short discussion at its Tuesday night meeting about advertising in school facilities, following a vote in Nov. 26 approving a formal policy on commercial and organizations paying to market on NCSD campuses.

The November vote ends what became a more than two-month-long debate, sparked by a three-year, $3,500 proposal from Clemon-Maki Insurance to continue the local company’s marketing campaign in Newton High School athletic facilities. The bid, submitted at the Sept. 24 school board meeting, included a plan to purchase advertising on the steps of H.A. Lynn Stadium.

In an interview Tuesday afternoon, NCSD Superintendent Bob Callaghan said the funds advertising raises is vital to the high school activities budget.

In October, NHS Athletic and Activities Director Ryan Rump told board members advertising brings $15,000 to $20,000 in revenue annually to the NHS activities fund. Each space allotted for advertising in school facilities, including football stadiums, scoreboards, bleacher steps, softball and baseball fields and the upper gym, were purchased, the district estimates an increase of $20,000 to $30,000 per year in additional revenue.

Callaghan said Tuesday, allowable growth for supplemental state aid from the Iowa Legislature would need to be at 3 percent in order to make up for any lost advertising revenue. It was at 1 percent in 2018.

Callaghan said it’s not just important for athletics, but also for the arts program.

“Ryan (Rump) counts on that $22,000 to run his program ... just to stay level from year to year,” Callaghan said.

The details

For business and organizations to advertise with NHS, the new policy requires them to follow a regimented guideline. The board has agreed to make eight areas available for advertising, all in sports-related venues. These spots include the Newton High School Upper Gym west-end basket railing; the NHS upper gym floor and scoreboard; the NHS lower gym scoreboard; H.A. Lynn Stadium steps (home side) and scoreboard; NHS softball field outfield fence; and the NHS baseball field outfield fence.

Advertising in school district facilities will be sold on a yearly basis, running from Aug. 1 to July 31. Any current advertiser will be given the option to renew their position before their spot is made available for bids from other potential advertisers.

Exceptions to the annual contracts will be made for advertisements on stadium steps and gym scoreboards.

The spots will be sold on a “first come, first serve” basis, and district officials are mandating advertisers agree to terms of use outlined by NCSD. Advertising opportunities will be presented via public notice.

Documents in Monday’s council documents show the costs of the advertisements will vary from $500 to $2,000 per year, depending on the venue and the ads’ location within. Each location also has a designated number of spots available for advertisements.

According to the new policy, all advertisers will have to adhere to the prices set by NCSD, and there will be no cost negotiations or bargaining. The policy also states advertisers will be responsible for the cost of design, delivery and installation of the ads.

Jeff Maki said he and their company was surprised when his bid to advertise sparked such a deep debate within the board. He said the move was meant as both a branding opportunity for Clemon-Maki Insurance and a way to generate some revenue for Cardinal sports.

Maki and other company representatives did not attend Monday’s meeting, and company officials plan to review the policy before making a decision whether or not to reopen a bid for advertising is the high school athletic facility, but Maki said he’s optimistic.

“We didn’t think it would go to this level,” Maki said. “We’d done it last year under the previous athletic director and didn’t hear any complaints. We were trying to figure out how to market ourselves in different ways and if supports the school, then great.”

Callaghan said he anticipates Rump and Clemon-Maki will resume talks for the advertising deal soon.

Contact Mike Mendenhall at 641-792-3121 Ext 6530 or at mmendenhall@newtondailynews.com