Monday's Internet Edition, October 06, 2008.
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News editor
- The Bulldawgs will get their new stadium.
The School Board of Trustees approved the contract to The Olen Williams Company for the Football Stadium Scoreboard. The contract is for $325,000 which includes the scoreboard and video production equipment.
The company also won the bid on the upgrade of gym scoreboards, for $13,075.
“The system is much more detailed. It will have a message center for text messages, it will have a video replay screen,” Athletic Director Jack Welch said, “It will look like Waco’s but much more larger and better. The LED’s’ will last at least 20 years. We will have permanent sponsors listed across the top. Everything is ready to go.”
The plan to pay for the scoreboard called for the district to pay for the equipment up front and have the athletic department arrange to pay back the funds over a 10-year period with advertising revenues.
The athletic department has visited with numerous businesses in the community during the past three weeks and has received commitments for annual advertising in the amount of $34,000 per year.
“We reduced the cost of advertising so that local businesses can advertise,” Superintendent Dr. Glen Acker said, “ We have lots of folks wanting to advertise with us.”
This rate of revenue would allow for payback to the district to be accomplished in 9.5 years. Revenues after the payback would then go to the Board Scholarship Fund.
“After its (scoreboard) paid for, the revenues can go into the scholarship fund,” Acker said, “We are one of the few districts that use every penny we get to put into the fund.”
“In about 5 to 10 years, we will be able to start offering that money to students.”
A separate Enterprise Fund will be set up to manage the revenues received for the Bulldog Stadium scoreboard. All advertising revenues will be used to pay back the General Fund for the cost of the scoreboard. After the cost has been recouped, all revenues will be added to the Trustee Scholarship Fund.
The CCISD General Fund will pay for utility costs, maintenance and operations on the scoreboard.
The existing scoreboard will go to SC Junior High.
“It’s a good scoreboard, its served its purpose,” Welch said, “But its time for an upgrade. We will be able to have 30-second commercials on the new scoreboard.
There will be three cameras set up in different positions for different angles throughout the games. This will be good for more audience participation. It’s just a really nice scoreboard.”