TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Advertising seems to be everywhere these days - on city transit buses, sports stadiums, airliner tray tables and even in public restrooms.
So why not on public school buses?
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Bills have been filed in Florida to lift an existing ban on such advertising.
On Monday, a senate education committee supported the idea with a close 4-2 vote.
Florida Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto was not supporting the bill, saying bus advertising would exacerbate inequities among children for products some cannot afford.
A legislative report issued this week, though, notes the idea is opposed by critics who say such ads could be a safety hazard by distracting motorists.
Sen. Bill Montford, a Tallahassee Democrat, who is sponsoring one of the bills disagreed in an interview Friday.
Montford, also CEO of the Florida Association of District School Superintendents, said his research shows that shouldn't be a problem.
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The advertisements will be relatively small and the legislation would prohibit advertising for such things as condoms and liquor, he said.
First Coast school districts are aware of the proposed legislation, but not getting involved in the work of lawmakers.
George Mouro, a Jacksonville parent is not impressed with the legislation saying of bus advertising,"It would look tacky, like graffiti."
Parent Michelle Herring was more receptivel, "If money would go toward that (classrooms) I think may be OK with it. "
Montford says he wants to give schools an option that would help them avoid cutting employees or programs.
"This is not required and it is up to the individual school districts. So they may decide not to do it. But if so, this is another opportunity for them to raise some money, even though it might be a small amount, to offset some of the costs especially in transportation."
But the idea makes retired teacher Donna Sanford angry.
She testified against the legislation during a Senate committee on Monday, saying it would make roads more dangerous as drivers focus on the ads instead of their driving.
Plus, she thinks school buses should not be turned into billboards.
"If this bill passes, our school buses are going to be rolling billboards. That school bus has been the same for umpteen years and I'm pretty old. I call it the virgin bus because it's pure and it's carrying our most natural resources, our children."
The bill narrowly passed out of the Senate Pre-K-12 committee on a 4 to 2 vote. It still faces two more committee votes before it can get to the full Senate for debate.
Florida Today, First Coast News