Miami-Dade County Public Schools could roll out a major advertising program in schools and facilities in 2012-13 or sooner, bringing millions in new revenue to the cash-strapped district.

At the School Board meeting Wednesday, Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said his administration is in the final stages of negotiations with four companies. A critical, pending piece: What percent of the advertising dollars will go to the district.

“I’m clearly aware a huge percentage of our kids have exposure to brands, to concepts every single day,” Carvalho said.

“Without imposing, and being respectful of the parent community and insisting on socially responsible messaging provided by corporate sector entities, if we can generate revenues as a result of it, then I think it’s something we ought to consider.”

The new details came during a major discussion of money — and the lack of it. The board decided to hunt to find new sources of revenue, launched a five-year transportation study to detail issues with its bus fleet, and heard about the shortage of capital dollars.

In addition, before the board meeting, alumni from inner-city schools held a news conference over a controversial, and now canceled, contract to broadcast a football game on Comcast.

In Broward County, the school district last week considered selling advertising space to bring in money.

Three years ago, the Dade school board asked then Superintendent Rudy Crew to explore advertising in schools as revenue.

In October 2010, the Miami-Dade district asked companies, including advertising management companies, for proposals. Four proposals were chosen for negotiation: two indoor proposals, one for outdoor proposals and one by a management company. One of the companies has a product that allows parents to view online and in real time whatever advertising being shown in schools, said Marcos Moran, assistant superintendent for district and school operations.

Carvalho said the program would be comprehensive and the first of its kind and could generate revenues in the millions for the district. He said it would focus on common areas, such as digital signs in cafeterias. Other potential ad space: frontage areas on facilities like bus depots and maintenance yards. Under board policy, any final negotiated contracts do not need board approval.

“I would not approve of placing any type of advertising in hallways, classrooms, anything like that,” he said.

While the Miami-Dade district has fared the recession better than many of its peers, it faces a difficult financial situation that could worsen.

“In terms of capital, we are broke,” Richard Hinds, the district’s chief financial officer told the School Board Wednesday.

He explained that a majority — about 60 percent — of the district’s capital dollars pay debt service. The bill in 2011-12: $192.5 million. In two years, in 2013-14, those payments will grow to nearly $235 million — 77 percent of the district’s capital outlay budget.

The district also has nearly $2 billion in deferred maintenance on its books.

“The fourth-largest school district in the U.S. has no money available to update schools, to refurbish schools, school A/C or anything like that. In my opinion that is a sad story, a very sad story,” Hinds said.