Schools to profit from sales of apparel

Boyle County schools will receive more than expected from the sale of Boyle County merchandise at the local Walmart.
The Board of Education unanimously approved a contract Thursday with Pel Athletic that will allow the district to receive 10 percent of revenues from Boyle County merchandise sold at the store.
Pel, Walmart’s sole provider of local school apparel, initially offered Boyle County 8 percent of its profits in order to comply with a new Walmart policy, which mandates the company contract with schools before selling any more school products at the store.
The school board tabled the contract at February’s meeting to give Assistant Superintendent David Young time to negotiate with Pel.
“I called up, and shrewd  businessman that I am, I got them up from 8 percent to 10 percent,” Young told the board.
Young also discovered that Pel has similar school contracts with about 50 other Walmarts in Kentucky and is continuing to contact more schools. Danville Board of Education will consider one of Pel’s contracts at its meeting Monday night, he said.
Neither school has ever benefited from the sale of district merchandise at Walmart before, and Boyle County Superintendent Mike Lafavers said he’s pleased with the unexpected opportunity to do so.
“We don’t anticipate it being a huge money maker, but whatever money we do make, we’ll make sure it gets back to the kids for academic or athletic ventures,” he said.
Young did not know how much Boyle County merchandise Walmart typically sells, and local Walmart officials declined to comment. But the district will receive monthly checks from Pel starting immediately.
Boyle County isn’t planing on getting greedy with its brand anytime soon, though, Young said.
Last month, board member Steve Tamme inquired about the possibility of Boyle County trademarking its name and logos, so the district could demand royalties from other venders selling school merchandise. But the board did not readdress that issue Thursday, and Young said it is not on the district’s agenda.
“I don’t think we want to do anything to limit,” he said. “I think we’re more concerned with people being proud to be associated with Boyle County.”

IN OTHER BUSINESS

n The board unanimously approved adjustments to this year’s calendar that will allow schools to make up for 12 snow days.
The last day of school for students will now be June 3, instead of May 20 as originally planned. Students also will attend school for 30 extra minutes on Monday, April 18, Director of Operations Mike Pittman said.
The graduation ceremony is preliminarily planned for the evening of June 3.
The last day for staff will be June 8.
n The board also unanimously approved new graduation requirements.
The changes reflect the shift from the present four-block day at Boyle County High School to the five-block day that will begin next school year.
The five-block day will allow students to take 10 classes instead of eight each year.
As a result, by the year 2015, students will need 36 out of 40 passing credits instead of 28 out of 32 passing credits, which is currently the requirement.
The new schedule eventually will give students an opportunity to gain 21-30 hours of college credit from classes taught by BCHS faculty, Lafavers said.