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At the Montville Township Public Schools Board of Education's next meeting Tuesday, the board will discuss selling naming rights to help fund the high school field restoration project.
Board President Dr. Karen Cortellino read a statement of the board's consideration of the measure at the board's March 6 meeting.
"There is a way that public bodies, including school districts, can acquire revenue for particular projects—including projects related to athletic facilities—from sources other than taxes, and that is to offer so-called 'naming rights' for a fee," she said.
Despite a failed referendum that asked voters whether they would approve a $990,000 artificial turf field project funded through the district's surplus, Cortellino said the board had not yet considered selling the naming rights of the field to a sponsor.
"This is an avenue that we can explore that could possibly get the field done at no cost to the taxpayer," she said.
The school district is currently following advice on improving the conditions of the field from the Rutgers Cooperative Extension, but their suggestion is for the high school field to be used for games only, allowing the turf to rest and grow.
"In the end, we are left with solutions which seem patchwork and temporary. A more permanent solution is necessary," Cortellino said.
Denise Gauweiler, chairwoman of Montville Turf the Valley, the non-profit organization that has been working to raise funding for an artificial turf field at the high school, said Turf the Valley would support the board selling naming rights if the measure were to go through.
"I think it would be great option," she said.
Cortellino noted that if a resolution is approved, the board would have to go out to bid for the naming rights and submit a Request for Proposals. The board will be meeting at the William Mason School Tuesday at 8 p.m.
In This article
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Montville Township Board of Education
86 River Rd, Montville, NJ -
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Montville Township High School
100 Horseneck Rd, Montville, NJ -
William Mason Elementary School
5 Shawnee Trl, Montville, NJ
Bob Dudek
7:39 am on Wednesday, March 14, 2012
It's coming to this?....
What's next?..
Bank Of America Middle School?
V
8:38 am on Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Both the turf money and the increased state aid were wasted on stuffing the Board's wish list this year. Do not buy a lie that this year's budget growth is low, as the actual increase it's astounding 4.7%! Mark my words: next year the Board will violate the 2% cap claiming that the state aid was "not as expected". Today, it is naming rights - what do they sell next to preserve the union members' payroll and lavish benefits?
Pete Sesnick
10:55 am on Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Will selling the "naming rights" provide for the cost of continuing maintenance?
And what is this obsession with "turfing the valley?" I wish the BOE were as obsessed with improving the quality of education and controlling expenses (in particular, labor costs) as they seem to be with "turfing" the football field.
wally
12:06 pm on Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Question is why didn't they do this 3-4 years ago? Project would already be done.
Ed
12:54 pm on Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Our schools should be kept, to the best of our ability, independent of commercial entanglement. Large companies would have a lever to push their products on our students and/or what may go on with our high school field. The schools are our town’s “Learning Centers”, selling the rights to our football field creates a “Branded Name” and students may be influenced to buy these products be they good or bad. While this may be the case in the commercial world, it should not be the case with these young minds. Do people really think that an outside company is just going to give us money and not put demands on us for years to come? The Board of Education does not need any more long term outside contract influences or more legal issues.
jerry
5:57 am on Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Didn't we VOTE on this issue? Case closed. If someone wants to give the town the money with no strings attached that fine, but I don't think monkeys will be flying out of me any time soon.