A sample of an ad on a Douglas County School District bus.
In an attempt to bring in more revenue for Douglas County school district, the 35 bus routes could become mobile billboards by fall.
“You see it on city buses all the time, so why not on school buses, too,” said Douglas County School District Director of Marketing & Communications Hailey Sebahar.
Sebahar presented the idea to advertise local businesses on school buses to the school board during the school board meeting on March 23.
According to Sebahar, the idea was shared with the board as information only, and did not need a board vote to move forward.
“We did have legal counsel look over what we planned to do to make sure it was in line with our policies and NRS.,” said Sebahar.
Superintendent Frankie Alvarado said the funds from the advertising project will primarily offset fuel cost of the district, but should other needs arise, it would be a possible source.
“One of the things Frankie said he was going to do is find new sources to bring in revenue for the school district,” said Sebahar. “This was one of his ideas.”
Ad content guidelines include no ads for alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, gambling, or political campaigns, and all designs must align with Douglas County School District’s policies and require district approval.
“The district does reserve the right to determine whether the advertisement is appropriate or not,” said Alvarado. “We will review each application, make that determination, and then go from there.”
Sebahar said Douglas County School District Transportation Director Blair Hines measured the buses and determined that each bus could advertise up to two magnetic signs, one on each side of the bus. She also said that Nevada Highway Patrol approved the use of a sign on the back of the bus.
“As long as we are not covering up any emergency signs or other important information on the bus, we can do it,” said Sebahar.
Sebahar said the school district plans to launch the bus advertising project by the start of the new school year in the fall, but applications are being accepted now.
Visit www.dcsd.net/busads for more information.