SEATTLE -- The Seattle School Board voted Wednesday to bring back a controversial program that was cut nearly a decade ago, and the decision isn't sitting well with many local parents.
In need of revenue, the board approved a plan to sell advertising space on its high school sports fields and the wall calendar that's mailed to students each year. After the vote, dozens of parents voiced their displeasure with the board's decision.
"I don't trust these people that run this operation any further than I can throw them," said Nick Esparza of Seattle.
Speaking directly to board members, some parents complained that children are already inundated with advertising.
"Children get thousands of marketing messages a day and they should protect them from that," said parent Ed Lambert.
When the district did away with advertising back in 2004, it also gave up more than $1 million in revenue. Some parents said they're in favor of the money-making plan, but others, such as second grade teacher Robert Femiano, said they want corporate America to stay out of the classroom.
"Advertising on the school calendars means advertising both inside the classroom and inside the family home, where the calendar hangs," Femiano said.
Despite objections from parents, the board voted unanimously to bring the ads back. Revenue from the ads will go to student groups, and kids in attendance at the meeting were all for that.
"We all agree that one of our top priorities should be to get money back to our schools in any way possible," said student Matthew Paley.
At the meeting, board president Michael DeBell addressed the argument that kids are already exposed to too much advertising,
"There are far more sophisticated advertising campaigns that they are experiencing constantly probably at home but also at school and on the way back forth what we are talking about is pretty tame," he said.
Many parents said they don't buy that explanation.
"I do think it's a slippery slope and we're going to probably see this is going to allow more to leak into classrooms," said Gretchen Siegrist.
Since the ad money would only go to student clubs, bringing back advertising impact effect the current budget proposal.
Cuts that are being made to save money include keeping a hiring freeze in place, furlough days and layoffs at the central office - all of which totals roughly $10 million in savings.
Even with dipping into the savings account the school says they still have $16 million in the account. A public hearing will take place next Wednesday, with the final vote set for July 3.
In need of revenue, the board approved a plan to sell advertising space on its high school sports fields and the wall calendar that's mailed to students each year. After the vote, dozens of parents voiced their displeasure with the board's decision.
"I don't trust these people that run this operation any further than I can throw them," said Nick Esparza of Seattle.
Speaking directly to board members, some parents complained that children are already inundated with advertising.
"Children get thousands of marketing messages a day and they should protect them from that," said parent Ed Lambert.
When the district did away with advertising back in 2004, it also gave up more than $1 million in revenue. Some parents said they're in favor of the money-making plan, but others, such as second grade teacher Robert Femiano, said they want corporate America to stay out of the classroom.
"Advertising on the school calendars means advertising both inside the classroom and inside the family home, where the calendar hangs," Femiano said.
Despite objections from parents, the board voted unanimously to bring the ads back. Revenue from the ads will go to student groups, and kids in attendance at the meeting were all for that.
"We all agree that one of our top priorities should be to get money back to our schools in any way possible," said student Matthew Paley.
At the meeting, board president Michael DeBell addressed the argument that kids are already exposed to too much advertising,
"There are far more sophisticated advertising campaigns that they are experiencing constantly probably at home but also at school and on the way back forth what we are talking about is pretty tame," he said.
Many parents said they don't buy that explanation.
"I do think it's a slippery slope and we're going to probably see this is going to allow more to leak into classrooms," said Gretchen Siegrist.
Since the ad money would only go to student clubs, bringing back advertising impact effect the current budget proposal.
Cuts that are being made to save money include keeping a hiring freeze in place, furlough days and layoffs at the central office - all of which totals roughly $10 million in savings.
Even with dipping into the savings account the school says they still have $16 million in the account. A public hearing will take place next Wednesday, with the final vote set for July 3.