Policy 7.151

Business Partnership Recognition - Fence Screens

1. Purpose. -- The District recognizes that athletic sponsors and other business partners provide a vital role in sponsorship of key programs within our schools. As such, schools have increased needs to visibly recognize these partners in the community. In the interests of community aesthetics and in consideration of local ordinances that may prohibit or restrict banners and advertising, these uniform standards have been developed. By permitting the recognition of business partners on school campuses, it is not the intent of the School Board to create or open any Palm Beach County School District school, school property or facility as a public forum for expressive activity, nor is it the intent of the School Board to create a venue or forum for the expression of political, religious, or controversial subjects which are inconsistent with the educational mission of the School Board or which could be perceived as bearing the imprimatur or endorsement of the School Board.

2. Policy Statement.

   1. A Business Partnership Agreement form (PBSD 1570) must be used to document all partnerships as well as any screens posted to recognize sponsor donation revenue. A copy of this form is incorporated herein by reference as part of this policy and can be located on the District's forms web page.

   2. Because the screens are not considered advertising, the business partner must be informed and fully understand and agree that any funds provided to the school are considered donations.

   3. In case the screens must be removed for reasons beyond the school's control, such as safety, regulatory requirements, weather events, etc., no commitments will be made to a specific timeframe or location for screen display. Yet, the school may indicate a maximum timeframe for the display of the screen.

   4. Screens must not be placed on City or County property; only on School Board-owned property.

   5. Fence screens must be removed prior to tropical storms or a hurricane event, at the time a Storm Watch is declared. If the fence screen becomes torn or detached from the fence, the Principal shall ensure that it is repaired in a timely fashion.

   6. Any fence screens to be mounted on exterior fences must involve consultation with (i) School Police regarding any potential safe-sight concerns, and (ii) the Planning Department to determine if there are any municipality-specific Interlocal Agreements (currently Boca Raton is the only municipality with such an agreement), regulations or prohibitions.

   7. Screens placed along a residential road with houses or other residential dwellings fronting across the street, must cover no more than 50% of the fence frontage.

   8. In keeping with the express purpose of this Policy not to create or open schools as a public forum for expressive activity, Principals shall use their discretion in selecting and approving business partners that are consistent with the educational mission of the School Board, District and community values, and appropriateness to the age group represented at the school. Examples of inappropriate business partners include but are not limited to: businesses that sell goods or services which are illegal if possessed by or sold to a minor, adult entertainment establishments, businesses whose primary source of revenue is generated from the sale or distribution of alcohol or tobacco products, tattoo parlors, pain clinics and businesses soliciting addicts.

   9. School marquees, whether electronic or manual, shall not be used to advertise or permanently reference business partner recognition; however, they may be used to thank a business partner for a specific one-time support of an event or donation to the school for a specific project.

   10. In the unincorporated areas, the design standards set forth below in Paragraph 3 operate as a pilot program until June 30, 2011, as provided for by Chapter 1002.375, Florida Statutes. School center staff can determine whether they are located in the unincorporated area by visiting the Planning department's website and clicking on Find My Public Official (The column titled Municipality will show as Unincorporated.)

   11. Nothing herein precludes negotiation of customized standards with an individual Municipality or with the County via an Interlocal Agreement in coordination with the Planning Department.

3. Design Standards: Any method of recognition of business partners on fence screens that is substantially visible from outside School Board-owned property shall meet the following standards:

   1. The text must be printed on fence wind screens placed on fences to camouflage the chain link. For safety in high winds, screens are recommended at 85 closed mesh material for wind resiliency.

   2. The fence screens must all be uniform in size and color. The suggested size coincides with the height of the fence, up to a maximum of 6' high and width of each panel 10' wide. Only two colors may be selected (for example, school colors). The background/screen color and font color used on all screens must be consistently the same color and font style to ensure uniformity. Font size must not exceed 8".

   3. Side-by-side banners must not be used to create longer messages.

   4. Screens must be placed side-by-side (abutting one another), at a uniform height, aligned with the top rail of the fence, for a neat uniform appearance.

   5. The fence screen must thank the sponsor (Suggested language is: Thank you to our business partner or This school is supported by).

   6. No photographs shall be printed on the screens. The business logo may be displayed in the upper left corner of the screen, but it must be no larger than 18" by 18" in size, and may use the business partner's standard corporate colors for the logo only, or in the same color as the font used for the other printed text on the screen.

   7. Unless purchased by the business partner as stated below, the school must utilize the District's bid awarded vendor for fence wind screens and follow the District procedures to place an order with the vendor. Prices vary by screen size and quantity of order. The amount donated by the business partner must exceed the District's cost and provide adequate funding for an important program or activity at the school. As an alternative, the business partner may purchase a fence screen from the vendor of their choice, provided that the design provisions of this policy are followed.

   8. Any banners or screens hung in areas not substantially visible from the street are exempt from these design standards. In addition, these design standards do not apply to temporary signs concerning school related events.