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Board approves first reading to allow limited corporate naming of academic spaces
Summary
The board approved a first reading of a policy that would allow the district to accept corporate donations in exchange for naming rights limited to academic spaces and capped contract terms, with safeguards and board approval required for each naming.
The Davis County School District Board on Jan. 21 approved first reading of a policy change (10CR‑5) that would permit corporate donations for naming rights of academic spaces, subject to board approval and contract limits.
The measure, introduced by the district’s general counsel Ben Onofrio, would permit targeted relaxations of the district’s naming policy so that businesses may fund and sponsor certain instructional or CTE spaces. Key constraints written into the policy include board approval of any naming agreement and a contractual cap of 10 years for naming rights.
Why it matters: trustees and staff said they want to preserve academic integrity while exploring ways to bring private funding into classrooms and career‑technical education spaces. Superintendent Linford described the approach as a cautious, “baby‑steps” strategy focused first on academic/CTE spaces rather than athletic fields or other widely visible facilities. Trustees noted concerns about perceptions of advertising and the need to avoid creating a situation in which public facilities are “sold to the highest bidder.”
Board discussion clarified that all proposed names would come to the full board for approval and that academic spaces proposed for naming would need to comply with the full list of required standards in the policy. Trustees also discussed that the current draft excludes athletic fields and stadiums because of higher potential for advertising exposure, and that the district’s preference is for partnerships that directly support student learning. The item passed on first reading by voice vote; if the board approves second reading at a future meeting, the policy would take effect as adopted.
The board did not adopt a list of specific donors or naming proposals at this meeting; each proposed naming would require a separate board vote and a contract that complies with the policy’s limits.
