Bret Harte High wants hands off frog

Bret Harte High School administrators want to make sure that when you buy a T-shirt or mug with the school’s bullfrog logo, at least some of the money will benefit students.

During its regular meeting on Monday, the Bret Harte Union High School District Board of Trustees voted to begin the process of trademarking the school’s logo amid concerns that local businesses were using it without permission. 

The district’s athletics programs are missing out on a source of revenue by not getting a share of the profits for school-related merchandise sold at nearby stores, said Athletics Committee Chairman Heath Lane.

Lane also estimated that the cash-strapped athletics programs could be getting $15,000 in additional funds if advertising money from local businesses went directly to athletics programs instead of booster’s clubs for individual sports.

Coaches agree about the need to regulate on-campus advertising during games so that the money goes to a general fund for the athletic program, Lane said.

He added that the district currently has no reserve funds to use for major repairs to equipment or facilities.

The Board of Trustees agreed to begin the trademarking process for the Bret Harte High logo, which will cost about $2,000. The strategy will only work if the district is vigilant about infringements, said Superintendent and Principal Michael Chimente.

“In these tough economic times, more and more schools are looking at doing this,” Chimente said during the meeting.