Alumni group and community speakers urge pause, due diligence on Nike branding deal

Several public speakers urged the Beverly Hills Unified School District Board of Education May 27 to pause and conduct further due diligence on a recently disclosed branding and supply arrangement that would give the district access to Nike benefits through the vendor BSN.

Robbie Curtis, a long‑time community member, said the item was “steamrolled” onto the agenda at the May 13 meeting and criticized the process. He said the measure shifted from a sponsorship to a longer‑term partnership without sufficient public discussion and that the board should not treat branding as a substitute for education or campus resources.

David Corwin, president of the Beverly Hills Athletic Alumni Association (BHAAA), told trustees the alumni association has provided uniforms and equipment for the high school for nearly two decades and has donated roughly $947,180 to district athletics. Corwin asked the board to study the financial implications of the new agreement, noting the BHAAA has not spent at levels that would trigger the $225,000 yearly threshold cited in the framework and that BSN already offers schools a standard 30–35% discount and periodic rebates.

Corwin also warned of practical problems such as Nike inventory lead times and said custom uniform elements may not count toward the Nike spending threshold. He urged the board to gather historical spending data, involve stakeholders and determine whether a partnership with Nike or revised terms with the current provider would be best for students and donors.

Board members discussed the item’s implications elsewhere on the agenda — trustees asked staff to separate policy language from operational regulations and to define “brand assets” clearly. No final action was taken specifically to terminate or renegotiate any supplier contract at the May 27 meeting; trustees asked for more stakeholder engagement and financial data before any binding commitment.