Proposed Bill Allows Naming Rights for School Cafeterias | News

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. --  A bill introduced in the Florida Legislature would allow schools to sell the naming rights for public school cafeterias to fund schools' food service budgets.

The St. Johns County School District already allows advertising in schools but it is limited.

"We actually allow advertising in our common spaces, athletic fields and last year our board added cafeteria," said Joseph Joyner, St. Johns superintendent.

Joyner said the legislation has a positive approach, but there are concerns.

"You have a captive audience and the effect of advertising... whether the school districts would be endorsing that product - that would give people pause," he said.

The proposal is the brainchild of Florida Rep. Irv Slosberg, a Democrat from Boca Raton. "The bill is not for Coca-Cola, McDonald's, Aunt Jemima pancakes. The bill is basically for places like Whole Foods, Publix, Fresh Foods and there would be a lot of filters," said Slosberg.

Chakir Abdl Hamid has a child in the St. Johns district. He said he would not be offended by corporate sponsors' names on the cafeteria, but as a small business owner, he has his own ideas of who should be a sponsor.

"It is a small business who should be allowed to sponsor," he said.

If the bill becomes law, it goes into effect July 1, and the school districts will have the final say.

"I would be in favor of it as long as it was permissive, meaning that we would have the option to participate or not participate,"said Joyner.

Dr. John Ruis, superintendent of the Nassau County School District, said he is not familiar with the proposed bill.

"It is certainly something we would explore," said Ruis.

Clay County School District Superintendent Ben Wortham said he is not aware of House Bill 1137 and will wait to see what happens.