wyliepoon
Senior Member
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20090114.SCHOOL14/TPStory/TPNational/Ontario/
Schools consider naming rights for donors
Committee to look at recommendation as a means to finance improvements
JOSH WINGROVE
January 14, 2009
The city's public schools could soon see gyms and theatres named after private donors, a recommendation trustees are to consider today as a way of financing improvements not covered by provincial funding.
The unusual public-school policy could see non-classroom "special-purpose areas" named for people who finance at least one-third of an area's building or renovation cost.
Trustee Scott Harrison first pushed for the policy last year, when an arts school in his ward was looking to replace chairs in its theatre.
"The board doesn't have the funding to do it ... therefore, we were looking at how do we fundraise for something like this. And people would want to be acknowledged for [funding] that," Mr. Harrison said, adding the board currently has no policy on the matter.
If the recommendation is passed, it would be up to a principal to name an area. Signage and plaques "shall not constitute commercial advertising," and "shall be modest, in good taste, and complement the style and design of the facility and project," it reads.
It would also allow schools to campaign themselves for capital projects, a new rule.
"It's not like we're putting a big Nike swoosh on the outside of the building," Mr. Harrison said.
Annie Kidder, executive director of advocacy group People For Education, said Ontario's schools raised about $596-million on their own last year, or about 3.1 per cent of the public education budget, a "worrying" trend.
Donors would be more easily secured in some communities, she said, making it difficult for Queen's Park to maintain equity in education provincewide.
"We assume that we need more and more private money in education, but ... we need to talk about this first, because of the inequity, and because of what it means. Have we decided public education is a charity?" Ms. Kidder said.
Marnie Spears, president and chief executive officer of fundraising consultancy Ketchum Canada Inc., said many institutions - universities, hospitals, arts centres - provide name recognition.
"Certainly from looking at all the sectors ... I would suggest [schools] are certainly one of the last" to offer naming rights, she said.
"It's an appropriate thing to do. But I see it, instead of being more a crass gesture, that it is really a sign of respect. What you're really doing is honouring the donor."
Boards across the country take different approaches. West of Toronto, the Peel public board allows for "appropriate recognition" of gifts, which may including a plaque, but not the full naming of a major part of a school.
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board allows plaques commemorating donations. Gyms, libraries and other major areas can be named after people who have made a "particular or outstanding lifetime contribution," though whether that might include a monetary donation isn't specified.
Like Toronto, the Edmonton Public School Board has no policy, but that hasn't stopped some of its schools from doling out naming rights to individuals. "There's no policy about it, but the practice does allow it," EPSB spokesman Cory Sinclair said. "It's more of an honouring thing, rather than a quid pro quo."
The Vancouver School Board policy "does not offer naming of its programs or facilities after corporations or individuals who have made large donations as a form of recognition."
Toronto's operations and facilities management committee is to meet this afternoon to discuss the recommendation. Mr. Harrison and four other trustees sit on the committee.
Schools consider naming rights for donors
Committee to look at recommendation as a means to finance improvements
JOSH WINGROVE
January 14, 2009
The city's public schools could soon see gyms and theatres named after private donors, a recommendation trustees are to consider today as a way of financing improvements not covered by provincial funding.
The unusual public-school policy could see non-classroom "special-purpose areas" named for people who finance at least one-third of an area's building or renovation cost.
Trustee Scott Harrison first pushed for the policy last year, when an arts school in his ward was looking to replace chairs in its theatre.
"The board doesn't have the funding to do it ... therefore, we were looking at how do we fundraise for something like this. And people would want to be acknowledged for [funding] that," Mr. Harrison said, adding the board currently has no policy on the matter.
If the recommendation is passed, it would be up to a principal to name an area. Signage and plaques "shall not constitute commercial advertising," and "shall be modest, in good taste, and complement the style and design of the facility and project," it reads.
It would also allow schools to campaign themselves for capital projects, a new rule.
"It's not like we're putting a big Nike swoosh on the outside of the building," Mr. Harrison said.
Annie Kidder, executive director of advocacy group People For Education, said Ontario's schools raised about $596-million on their own last year, or about 3.1 per cent of the public education budget, a "worrying" trend.
Donors would be more easily secured in some communities, she said, making it difficult for Queen's Park to maintain equity in education provincewide.
"We assume that we need more and more private money in education, but ... we need to talk about this first, because of the inequity, and because of what it means. Have we decided public education is a charity?" Ms. Kidder said.
Marnie Spears, president and chief executive officer of fundraising consultancy Ketchum Canada Inc., said many institutions - universities, hospitals, arts centres - provide name recognition.
"Certainly from looking at all the sectors ... I would suggest [schools] are certainly one of the last" to offer naming rights, she said.
"It's an appropriate thing to do. But I see it, instead of being more a crass gesture, that it is really a sign of respect. What you're really doing is honouring the donor."
Boards across the country take different approaches. West of Toronto, the Peel public board allows for "appropriate recognition" of gifts, which may including a plaque, but not the full naming of a major part of a school.
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board allows plaques commemorating donations. Gyms, libraries and other major areas can be named after people who have made a "particular or outstanding lifetime contribution," though whether that might include a monetary donation isn't specified.
Like Toronto, the Edmonton Public School Board has no policy, but that hasn't stopped some of its schools from doling out naming rights to individuals. "There's no policy about it, but the practice does allow it," EPSB spokesman Cory Sinclair said. "It's more of an honouring thing, rather than a quid pro quo."
The Vancouver School Board policy "does not offer naming of its programs or facilities after corporations or individuals who have made large donations as a form of recognition."
Toronto's operations and facilities management committee is to meet this afternoon to discuss the recommendation. Mr. Harrison and four other trustees sit on the committee.
pjks obviously, but you know what I mean) is subliminal advertising at its greatest!!
