RPS will consider selling naming rights to school facilities
The Richmond School Board is intrigued by a new revenue-generating possibility – selling the naming rights to school facilities to investors or donors.
The conversation arose in light of ongoing construction for the Richmond High School for the Arts, which is slated to open to students and staff later this year. Richmond Ed Fund CEO Taikein Cooper told Board members that he was approached by an individual who offered to provide equipment for the school’s anticipated podcast studio. In return, the individual asked for the studio to be named after their parents, Cooper said.
The opportunity “could anchor a significant philanthropic investment in our newest school.”
Victoria A. Ifatusin
The Ed Fund is a nonprofit created to fundraise for RPS.
“I just want to know the best mechanism to bring these names to you all to vet and consider,” he said.
The topic grabbed Board members’ attention.
“We look forward to receiving that,” Cheryl Burke (7th District) said, looking at her colleagues.
Stephanie Rizzi (5th District) later chimed in after learning that the Ed Fund has received multiple offers: “I think this probably should be on our agenda sometime soon.”
Cooper pointed to the Board’s recent decision to purchase a turf field for RHSA, and said that he could have shopped for an investor to provide the turf, likely in exchange for naming the field after them.
Anne Holton (6th District) said that she would encourage the Board to “pursue carefully” the prospects, as the division has previously "wrestled a lot of name issues.”
The Board’s Policy Committee later met and learned that the division does have a policy allowing RPS to name a school space “in honor of individuals, private entities or corporate entities.” However, individuals specifically must be deceased or retired.
Holton asked at the committee meeting: “Does it give us any guidance around a ‘CarMax Stadium at Huguenot High School?’”
The committee agreed to discuss further the current policy at a future meeting and tap in Cooper to develop a procedure or guidance when reviewing the requests.
Ed Fund will create 'future center' program
Cooper also told the Board that the Ed Fund will create and pay for a “future-center-like program.”
During this year's budget season, the administration and School Board approved eliminating five future center navigator roles, one for each comprehensive high school in Richmond. These employees work closely with school counselors to create career and college readiness programs catered to students.
Victoria A. Ifatusin
“They won’t be RPS employees, but we are really trying to reimagine a program in partnership with the district to ensure that this work continues,” Cooper said.
While details are still being figured out, the Ed Fund program would likely have more than one future center navigator at each school, especially schools that have larger populations of students. Cooper said it would be ready for the next school year.
Contact Reporter Victoria A. Ifatusin at vifatusin@richmonder.org
