Board weighs RFP and revenue‑sharing for streaming high‑school events

Board members raised concerns that third‑party streamers and contractors currently retain most ad and subscription revenue from live broadcasts of high‑school events, and discussed a countywide approach to procurement that would capture a larger share of those receipts for schools.

Why it matters: Members described athletics and other extracurricular programs as costly to operate and said local streaming revenue is one potential source to offset expenses for uniforms, travel and facilities upkeep. The board argued the schools are the product being monetized and should receive a meaningful share of proceeds.

What was discussed: Board members discussed differences in streaming platforms (Huddle, JR1, Video Productions) and the difficulty of a one‑size‑fits‑all contract given different technical setups and manpower constraints. Proposals included issuing an RFP that covers multiple schools and venues so vendors bid on a countywide package, a flat per‑game fee model, or a subscription model that returns a percentage of revenue to the district. Administrators noted logistics — manpower, bandwidth, and platform compatibility — would affect implementation and timelines.

Next steps: Board asked staff to draft an RFP template and to study models used by other counties; one board member volunteered to gather samples and the technology team will review technical capacity. The board suggested aiming for a policy/RFP in time for next year’s scheduling cycle.

Ending: No vendor decision was made; staff will return with a draft RFP and recommendations on revenue‑sharing options and operational feasibility.