Butler BOE Considers Hosting HERSHEY'S Track Event

The is considering waiving a policy that would allow HERSHEY'S to host a track and field event at the district's athletic complex.

But the event wouldn't only be sweet for HERSHEY'S.

The intention of the HERSHEY'S Track & Field Games is to promote health and well-being, not chocolate. HERSHEY'S is requesting to host the event in but would not be making a profit off of the event, as indicated so far, and registration fees would not be charged of students participating.

The annual event invites students from several schools ages 9 to 14 to compete in many track and field events. Four hundred and eighty local winners are chosen from the meet to compete at the North American Final, according to the HERSHEY's website.

While HERSHEY'S has not indicated that they would actually make a profit off the event, since they are a for-profit company, they are not excluded from the district's category for agencies and companies that typically would not be able to rent the facility. However, Butler Public Schools Superintendent Mario Cardinale raised the idea to the Butler Board of Education Thursday night to ask if the board would consider waiving the policy that prevents for-profit companies from using the property.

"The limit to the HERSHEY'S involvement appears to be sponsoring the track meet at our facility," he said.

Cardinale said HERSHEY'S does have a date in mind and it is within the school year, however he did not yet share the date until board members agree to consider the application.

Board members seemed amenable to the concept of allowing HERSHEY'S to use the facility, with Board President Matt Lee sharing that he has attended the event at other facilities, including near Rutgers University, and that since several Butler residents have participated in the event in the past, it would be nice for local parents not to have to drive so far this year. Lee said there are between six and seven hours worth of events held during the meet.

Lee did caution that the board consider how to ensure attendees are using the field with proper care, not parking on the grass, but Business Administrator Debra Naley-Minenna said a maintenance supervisor would be at the event.

Board Member and Policy Committee Chairwoman Cynthia Sokoloff said the event seemed to be an exception to the classification and that the board could consider waiving the policy that would typically prevent it.

"I don't think that this was what we had in mind when we defined 'Class E'," she said. "I think the profit is the good will for the company," she said.

One thing Cardinale said would still have to be considered by the district's legal counsel is whether HERSHEY'S products being sold at the snack stand, which would be run by the local youth football league, would imply a profit for HERSHEY'S.

Board Member Heather Grecco said that in addition to bringing the event closer to local participants, the district would be able to showcase its facility.

"(It's) nice for us to show off our beautiful track," she said.