Public schools-- like Beverly Hills High-- are starting to ask "why not?" when it comes to donations and naming opportunities; critics say it underlines inequity.
"At Beverly Hills High School, a gift of $2,500 will get your name on a seat in the theater. For $50,000, the teachers lounge can be named after you. And, for $10 million, a campus street can bear your name. The Beverly Hills Unified School District has a menu of buildings, courtyards, auditoriums, even trees, for sale. It is a strategy still largely uncommon in public school systems, following more along the naming-rights policies at private schools, colleges and hospitals." -- Stephen Ceasar, the Los Angeles Times
It’s hard to imagine this approach not becoming the norm in the near future. The fact is, most cities are chronically short of funds for community programs of all kinds, including education and those related to safety. Maybe BHH is motivated by other reasons, but with government cutbacks at all levels, municipal sponsorships and naming rights are one of the few options left for increasing revenue.