According to the latest School Board packet the Duluth News Tribune will get $16,487.01 from the Duluth School District. Six items are listed for payment, the largest is $9,728 from Public Relations for “ROUNDUP, BUDGET, RED PLAN ADS.”
This is a recent full page ad put in the Trib by the School District. Ostensibly it encourages people to attend one the three meetings to hear the marvelous plans the School District is planning for student programming. Of course, should the fall operatioonal referendum fail there will be such draconian cuts that all the “promises” will die. All this advertising only managed to cough up sixty people total for the three city-wide meetings the ad promoted. Meager results for an expensive ad campaign.
These ads are obviously designed to put the voters in a good mood to pass the operational levy. Its ironic but state law prevents school districts from advertising for referendums they have placed before the voters. If the Red Plan, which this ad attempts to put in a good light, were being put up for a vote the Distict this ad would be illegal. Because the voters have been denied a right to vote this ad is perfectly legal.
One more point which should be reiterated. The District’s advertising budget is set at about $130,000. We’ve sacrificed two teaching positions to advertise the brillance of the School Board and Superintendent. Money well spent.
