I don't know if I missed the info from Debbie, but
there IS a link up to submit your opinion online:
http://www.mpls.k12.mn.us/board/vending_feedback.shtml
Jon Kelland
Bryant
--- Debbie Urbanski <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> The Minneapolis Board of Education wants public
> input as it considers
> policies on advertising and vending in the schools.
> On Tuesday, March 27
> at 4:30 p.m. the Board will hold a public policy
> study session to
> discuss these issues and hear the public's thoughts
> and concerns. The
> meeting will be in the 3rd floor assembly room at
> 807 NE Broadway. A way
> to give online feedback will be available beginning
> Monday, March 26 -
> I'll post the url to that specific web page when
> it's ready.
>
> Here is some background:
> Corporate partnerships with school districts have
> received both local
> and national attention in recent months. Much of the
> discussion has
> centered on districts negotiating exclusive beverage
> vending agreements
> and whether pop should be sold in schools. Parents
> and others have
> expressed concern not only about the health
> implications of those
> contracts but whether the result is increased
> student exposure to the
> vendor's marketing messages.
>
> The Minneapolis Public Schools Board of Education
> believes the issue is
> much broader, however, and must be examined in light
> of everything from
> donations of educational software containing
> business advertising, to
> the donation of school supplies or backpacks with
> corporate logos.
>
> In a district with limited resources, revenue and
> materials generated by
> business sponsorships help finance a variety of
> programs in the schools.
> Vending revenue funds everything from debate and
> other extracurricular
> clubs to uniforms and field trips. Board members are
> sensitive to parent
> and community concerns about whether business
> sponsorships including
> exclusive beverage vending contracts expose students
> to an unacceptable
> level of corporate influence through advertising.
> They are also
> concerned about the health implications of pop sales
> in schools.
>
> Tuesday's policy study session will allow the Board
> to hear from
> external resource speakers about these issues as
> well as parents,
> students, staff and others who have opinions about
> these topics. For
> more information on this or other policy study
> sessions please call the
> district's Communications Department at
> 612.668.0230.
>
> Among the policy questions the Board would like
> feedback on are:
> Should corporate partnerships that may involve
> advertising be included
> in our fundraising strategy?
> What level of advertising is acceptable in schools
> (i.e. advertising at
> athletic fields, exclusive vending machines, school
> supplies provided by
> a vendor)?
> What are the implications of allowing commercial
> activities in schools:
> i.e. how do pop sales affect student health? Do
> computer and equipment
> donations that contain advertising develop our
> students into customers
> for the sponsoring corporations?
>
>
> --
> Debbie Urbanski
> Communications Department
> 612-668-0233
> Minneapolis Public Schools. Expect Great Things.
> http://www.mpls.k12.mn.us
>
>
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