Kaneland schools to consider stadium  advertising banners as revenue source

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Updated: January 29, 2012 2:33AM

Kaneland Knights fans may soon see advertising banners at the high school football stadium.

The Kaneland School Board on Monday will consider a plan to raise revenue through the sale of advertising space on the athletic field fences to cover the need for such projects as a new scoreboard and upgrades to the track.

The administration’s proposal comes as the district prepares to cut $1.1 million in expenses to reduce a deficit in the next fiscal year budget.

Superintendent Jeff Schuler said over the last couple of months he has been working with high school administrators and representatives of the high school Sports Boosters about the need for additional revenue resources to cover these types of projects.

Schuler said a committee of the Sports Boosters has forwarded recommendations for the board’s consideration:

20 banners will be sold and displayed on the inner athletic fence around the track.

The banners will follow a uniform color scheme.

The suggested price is $1,500 per year for a banner.

The proceeds from the advertising sales will be placed in a fund and donated to the school district when sufficient funds are met for a project.

They also recommend that advertising funds not be used to support operating costs for a specific athletic or extracurricular program.

Schuler said the $1,500 figure was recommended by the Sports Boosters after looking at the rates for stadium advertising in other communities.

Also on Monday, the administration is expected to release specific budget reduction targets. The preliminary figures cut the lion’s share — $620,325 — from the area that includes operational departments, technology, transportation, food service, maintenance, special education and administrative services.

Also targeted are cuts of $194,589 at the elementary level; $121,374 at the middle school level; and $163,712 at the high school. Schuler said the $1.1 million in identified reductions represent about 2.4 percent of the district’s operating budget.

The administration has set a March 12 date for making the final decision.