BRIEF HISTORY OF COMMERCIALISM IN SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Year Date Seattle School District Community
1989 April 17   State Board of Education notifies District administrators that it opposes commercialism in the classroom
1990     National PTA adopts resolution opposing commercial exploitation of students in school
  Jan.   Washington State PTA opposes TV commercials in school
1991 Jan.   National Association of School Board Educators opposes commercialism in schools
    District allows principals to sign contracts with Channel One  
1996 Aug. 1   National Education Association opposes programs that involve marketing/promoting products that exploit students and/or institutions
  Oct. 2   Seattle Council of PTSA expresses concerns to School Board about proposed policy of selling ads in schools
  Nov. 6 School Board approves Olchefske's proposal to sell paid ads in schools (5-2) 8 citizens testify against ads; 1 testifies for
  Nov. 8   Seattle P-I anti-ads editorial
  Nov. 14   American Postal Workers Union, AFL-CIO adopts anti-ads resolution
  Nov. 20   Seattle Times pro-ads editorial
  Dec. 3   Public uproar against ads in schools at Forum co-sponsored by SCPTA, League of Women Voters, AAUW, and others
  Dec. 4   King County Labor Council adopts anti-ads resolution
  Dec. 8   Seattle Times pro-ads editorial
1997 Jan. 1   Seattle Weekly anti-ads editorial
  Jan.   The Source anti-ads editorial (Church Council of Greater Seattle)
  Jan. Stanford appoints 1st Advertising Committee co-chaired by Bon Marche Executive  
  Jan. 11   Public Forum sponsored by AAUW, SYPP, Church Council and others; audience decides to form anti-ads organization (CCCS)
  March   Seattle Council of PTSA passes resolution opposing ads in schools.
  March 19 School Board rescinds policy of selling paid ads in schools (5-1). Stanford asks SCPTA to research issue 9 citizens testify against ads; 0 testify for
  April 2   School board is presented with anti-ads petition signed by 60 physicians
  April 18   SCPTA receives WSPTA Special President's award for advocacy on commercialism in schools
  May 30   CCCS and SCPTA organize Walkthrough of 30 Seattle Schools
  July   SCPTSA publishes Report on Commercial Activities and Advertising in the Seattle Public Schools
  Sept. 19   WSPTA Parent Involvement Summit develops Criteria for Healthy Business Partnerships
  Nov. 97 Stanford appoints 2nd 'stakeholder' Ads Committee to study issue and make policy recommendations; Corporate sponsorships and 'partnerships' proliferate  
1998 May 18   CCCS sponsors Community Forum on Channel One
  Sept. 22   District committee meets for 1 year and issues policy recommendations greatly restricting ads in schools
  Oct. District signs 5-year exclusive vending machine contract with Coca-Cola Corporation Public uproar over Coke deal.
  Dec. 9 School Board adopts new district policies on naming of buildings and plaques recognizing corporate donors. Motion is introduced and voted at same meeting; no community input
2000 Jan.   Seattle Times editorial calls for end to Channel One in Seattle schools
  Feb. 29 School Board promises to review commercialism issue; delegates to PAL committee; PAL tables issue  
  April District signs contract with N2H2 'Bess' Partnering Program requiring K-12 kids to see Internet banner ads and allowing marketers to collect data on students  
  Sept. 6   CCCS presents anti-ads policy to School Board and urges adoption
  Nov. 20   Seattle Education Association passes resolution opposing ads
  Dec.   75 Community leaders endorse letter opposing ads in Seattle schools
2001 Jan.   Seattle Community College Teachers' Federation passes resolution opposing ads in schools
  Jan.   Seattle Young People's Project endorses CCCS letter opposing ads in schools
  Feb. PAL Committee again tables discussion of commercialism in schools