Gateway School Board is moving forward with the purchase of a new scoreboard on the promise the money will be reimbursed through an agreement with the district’s bus services company.
The board voted 7-2 to purchase the nine-panel scoreboard from OES Inc for $315,000. The money will come from the district’s capital reserve budget. School board members Rick McIntyre and Brian Goppman dissented and expressed concern over how the deal happened.
The board originally decided in April to purchase a $300,000 scoreboard then reneged on the decision in June, opting instead to repair the old one and wait for sponsors to volunteer to fund its replacement.
By November, the district had a sponsor – Student Transportation of America. The school board awarded the bus service company an extended contract through 2026. At the same time, STA said it would pay $315,000 for the scoreboard, prompting members of the public to question if the two deals were somehow linked. District officials denied the claim.
According to the resolution approved Jan. 15, STA will reimburse the district Aug. 1.
Superintendent Bill Short said the district already has begun its search for sponsors who want to advertise on the screen during events.
Short said installation of the scoreboard will start in the spring and it will be ready for use by graduation in June.
Dillon Carr is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Dillon at 412-871-2325, dcarr@tribweb.com or via Twitter @dillonswriting.
