Massachusetts District To Sell Ads On Classroom Supplies

The Boston Globe (10/1, Abel) reports that business ads "could soon be appearing on permission slips, class calendars, and school notices sent home with Peabody elementary school students after a unanimous School Committee vote this week." The Peabody school district, "like nearly every other district in Massachusetts, has coped with cuts in state aid and escalating costs for everything from contractual obligations to instructional supplies." District officials are aiming for initial earnings of up to $24,000. "They expect advertisers to pay $300 to run ads on some 10,000 sheets of paper in one elementary school." Businesses can also advertise at "all elementary schools in the district" for $2,000. The Boston Globe notes that before turning to ad sales, Peabody "hiked fees for buses and sports" and laid off teachers and staff.