Radnor finance committee declines on-campus advertising, favors booster support instead

Radnor Township School Districtfinance committee members on Jan. 13 discussed a request from the baseball booster club to allow business signage at the varsity baseball outfield and solicit local advertising to raise funds, but agreed to maintain the district's current administrative practice and not permit on-campus advertising.

The question was introduced by Mister Pauling, director of business administration, who said the booster club asked whether the district would permit fundraising via signage. Mr. Bechtold told the committee the district's Policy 913.1 (Advertising and Sponsorships) provides a framework that would allow recognition-style messages in large venues — for example, the name and logo of a business or a neutral description such as "heating and cooling services" — but prohibits promotional language in classrooms or areas visible from classrooms.

Policy context and zoning limits mattered most to several members. Missy Klaus, assistant director of business administration, said township zoning defines "off-premises signs" and generally does not allow those signs on the district's property without a special-exception hearing before the zoning hearing board. "They are called off premises signs," Klaus said, adding that the special-exception process could require substantial time and expense for limited revenue upside.

Bechtold reported a Central League survey of peer districts: responses came from seven high schools in six districts and only one district then permitted on-campus advertising; that district retained revenue to offset athletic costs rather than sending proceeds to booster organizations. Bechtold described two administrative paths: keep the current practice and work with booster clubs on alternative revenue or create a detailed framework to permit advertising, including standards, locations and templates.

Chair Lydia Solomon summarized the discussion and said the committee would "stick with what we're currently doing" and requested the administration continue to support booster clubs with other fundraising approaches, including non-sign options such as website banners used in past seasons. No formal vote was recorded; the committee's direction was captured as a consensus to maintain current administrative regulations and for staff to return with other ways to support booster fundraising.

The committee also discussed the practical logistics and messaging controls the district would impose if it later chose to permit advertising, emphasizing that any future program would be tightly managed by the district.