Activity buses used as ‘moving billboards’
Businesses have the opportunity to use activity buses as ‘moving billboards’
With the fall sports season here,
Gaston County Schools activity buses are
out and about, carrying football teams,
cheerleaders and other students to
games around the area each week.
Thanks to a unique business
partnership, these buses now offer a way
for local companies to support students
and teachers in Gaston County Schools
while receiving a revenue boost along
the way.
In partnership with Say It Here
Communications, Gaston County
Schools has developed an activity
bus sponsorship program for the local
business community.
Businesses may advertise on one
of the white activity buses, offering an
outstanding promotional opportunity.
In return, the school district receives
70 percent of the revenue from the
advertisements.
Gaston County Schools activity buses
travel daily throughout the county and
across the region transporting students for athletic events, field trips and
other activities. These “moving billboards” allow companies to promote their
brand to a broad audience.
Steven Long, owner of GSM Services in Gastonia, said the sponsorship
program is a win-win for his company and the school district.
“GSM Services has always been proud to support Gaston County
Schools,” Long said. “We like the activity
bus sponsorship because it gives GSM
Services exposure, and the schools receive
part of the proceeds. We continually have
people tell us they saw our activity bus at
sporting events and school activities.”
Gaston County Schools was the
first district in North Carolina to allow
advertising on activity buses, beginning the
program in an effort to offset budget cuts.
Libbi Morgan, chief operating officer
of Say It Here Communications, said the
program benefits the entire community.
“The schools get additional funds, and
the advertiser gets extraordinary branding
as a business and community partner,” she
said. “It’s a wonderful program.”
Morgan is currently recruiting new
business sponsorships for this school year.
Advertisements stay on the buses for one
year, and businesses may request buses
at specific schools. The advertisements
must meet specific requirements and be
approved by the school district.
For information about the program, contact Libbi Morgan of Say It Here
Communications, 704-868-4446, or [email protected].
GSM Services sponsors a bus at Forestview High School. “We
continually have people tell us they saw our activity bus at sporting
events and school activities,” said business owner Steven Long.
Teachers engage in professional development
Gaston teachers engage in professional development workshops
Gaston County teachers became students for the afternoon during a
district-wide professional development day on Wednesday, September 30.
With 38 different workshops and training sessions offered at sites across
the county, teache