The Grafton School Committee on May 13 approved a one-year advertising pilot allowing local businesses to place standardized signs at Grafton High School athletic facilities and other district fields, a plan presented by Keith Jensen, president of the reinvigorated Grafton Boosters Club.

Proponents said the pilot is designed to create steady, recurring revenue to support athletics and reduce athletic fees. Jensen told the committee the pilot would be “flexible” — in duration, advertisers and locations — and recommended an initial August-to-August contract term with the school committee retaining final approval over advertisers and sign designs. He said the boosters would exclude liquor, cannabis and political advertisers and proposed a conservative annual revenue goal of about $10,000 with a stretch target of $20,000.

Committee members praised the plan as a way to support student athletes without recurring one-off fundraising events. Laura Austin, a committee member, thanked Jensen for volunteering with the boosters and said the committee could exercise the responsibility of approving advertisers so volunteers would not have to reject applicants directly. Members discussed starting placements at the stadium and upper turf, then possibly adding softball and baseball fields; they agreed the gym would be considered later.

After discussion the committee voted to approve the pilot for one year. The motion was made by Laura Austin and was seconded; no roll-call was taken on the record and the motion carried.

The boosters said signs would be standardized in color and size to maintain a consistent look; Jensen cited Marblehead High’s program as a model and said boosters aim for a more polished design. He told the committee the program requires little ongoing effort once signs are installed and that a marketing partner — a recent college graduate working on sales and production — could handle outreach and installation.

Committee members asked how revenue would be used; Jensen and others said funds would be directed to directly support athletics and to avoid or reduce athletic fees, with the committee and district staff (Ashley, identified as a district contact) determining final allocations. Discussion also noted the boosters operate scholarship and concession programs and that recurring sponsorship revenue differs from one‑time scoreboard or event fundraising.

With approval, the committee directs staff and the boosters to finalize terms and an advertiser approval process before the August start of the pilot.

The committee meeting included other business after the vote.