Just six months after the first advertisements began appearing on its Web pages, the Madison School District has decided to pull the plug on selling future ads on its online site.

And the district is placing temporary restrictions on contracts for ads at sports stadiums and gymansiums, too.

The Web ads, which have brought in about $9,000 to the district since they began appearing in October, will disappear from the district's home page, www.mmsd.org, and the home pages of the district's four main high schools, by Aug. 1.

The School Board took the action March 24.

"We decided it wasn't worth the revenue that they were bringing in," School Board President Arlene Silveira said. She said the ads clutter pages already laden with information.

Visitors will continue to see ads on scoreboards and scorers' tables at sports venues at least until Dec. 31, 2010, but the board hasn't decided what will happen after that. The board is requiring that ad contracts expire by that date unless it approves an extension.

Silveira said board members hope to discuss possible changes in the long-term ad policy during the next several months.

Some residents have objected to military recruitment ads.

The district expects to receive about $86,000 for the ads at sports venues, after paying for production fees and a 20 percent commission to Sports Image, a marketing firm.

The district has estimated ad sales will generate about $200,000 in revenue over a two-year period. Board members have said the ad sales show the public that before the district seeks additional funds in a referendum, it's doing everything possible to hold down costs to taxpayers.

— Andy Hall

Whatever happened to ... Look for Catching Up on Mondays in the Local section. Send your ideas to: justaskus@madison.com; 608-252-6192; Just Ask Us, P.O. Box 8058, Madison, WI 53708