Board to Consider Advertising at Basilone Field

A school board committee will begin developing a policy for parent groups that want to hang advertising banners on the fences around the playing field at Basilone Field.

Board members delivered an informal consensus at the Nov. 8 meeting for the finance and transportation committee to begin the work.

Lynne Hurley, chairwoman of the committee, said the district was approached by the Panther Athletic Club about the possibility of hanging the banners as a way to raise funds for improvements to the athletic facilities.

The parents would be responsible for selling the advertising, she said.

Similar advertising is displayed at the baseball complex on Prince Rodgers Avenue, but Hurley said she has not seen the banners at any of the schools.

Superintendent of Schools Michael Schilder said that the board should develop a policy and a process before allowing the banners.

As part of that review, Schilder said, the board should consider whether other organizations, like the band parents, should also be allowed to sell the advertising banners.

Board member Cindy Cullen said the board has to develop the policy before approving the proposal.

“Where do we draw the line?” she asked. “Do we sell the naming rights of the field?”  

Patrick Breslin, the board’s vice president, said the policy should be “very tightly defined.”

“I’m all for the advertising,” added board member Jeffrey Brookner. “If they want to put in the effort, great.”

Brookner said he wondered if the board should also allow advertising in the gymnasium during sports events.

But Schilder said there needs to be a distinction between a “captive audience” of students in gym class and adult spectators at a sports event.

“The adults can handle it,” he said.

Earlier this year, the board .