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Board member proposes paid ads and goodwill messages in graduation booklets; committee favors modest acknowledgments
Summary
A board member proposed allowing sponsorships or paid advertisements in Central Mountain and Bucktail graduation programs to offset printing costs; committee members agreed the programs should remain student-focused and suggested limited recognition lines or quarter-page spots as a compromise.
A Keystone Central board member asked the finance committee on Sept. 12 to consider permitting paid ads or goodwill messages in the 2025 Central Mountain High School and Bucktail High School graduation booklets to offset printing costs.
"I'd like to make a motion to amend the agenda. Motion to discuss the 2025 Central Mountain High School and Bucktail graduation booklets and advertising," Elizabeth Lynch said at the start of the meeting. Lynch displayed sample graduation booklets and proposed that the district allow "sponsorships, goodwill messages, business advertisements" to help pay printing costs.
Committee members voiced consistent concern that advertising not detract from the student-focused nature of the programs. "I think it's a good idea as long as we don't make it, like, full of advertisements and take the direction of it being about the students away," one member said. Suggestions to balance fundraising and decorum included a short credit line such as "printing donated by [sponsor]" on the last page, limited "quarter-page" spots tied to congratulatory messages, or a modest acknowledgement at the end.
Board members discussed logistics: pricing by page or half-page, a first-come, first-served allocation of limited spaces, and the importance of tasteful editing and review to avoid commercializing the program. One committee member referenced coordination with the superintendent's office to determine production costs and pricing, and noted that the administrative staff could provide recommended prices to cover printing costs per page.
The committee reached informal consensus to present the idea to the full board; staff said that the administration could "run with" the concept or bring a more detailed recommendation back to the full board. No formal vote was taken; members emphasized preserving the dignity of graduation while permitting limited recognition or sponsorship to offset costs.
