It will be “out with the old and in with the new” this summer at the Dade County High School gymnasium, with the Dade County Board of Education approving a near $40,000 purchase order for a new video screen to replace the facility’s original scoreboard.
It was one of several action items for Monday night’s regularly scheduled board meeting, addressing flooring maintenance at the nearly renovated Davis Elementary, a common wall and cement slab in need of repair adjoining both Dade Middle School & High School, as well as a five year contract renewal for the school systems’ computer software.
The new video board comes with a $39,999 price tag and the relative quick pitch from Dade County High School Principal Brent Cooper, who tendered the idea just weeks ago at last month’s board meeting.
The purchase order was passed unanimously by board members, sans Jason Crisp who was absent.
Cooper says he was inspired by his recent visit to Sylvania High School in neighboring DeKalb County, Alabama and the recent installation of the Rams’ new video board, which replaced the now iconic, bulb lit gymnasium staple.
Beyond making indoor sports events such as boys and girls basketball, volleyball and wrestling contests more enjoyable for fans and players alike, Superintendent Josh Ingle pointed to the utility value the near 21 square foot display would provide for other events, from last year’s impromptu indoor graduation ceremony, to campus pep rallies.
In his pitch to the board in March, Cooper suggested harnessing the potential sponsorship value of the video board for local businesses supporting Wolverines athletics. Cooper noted interstitial styled advertisements in his visit to Sylvania’s basketball tournament.
In other approved expenditures by the board, a new $13,000 floor buffer is bound for Davis Elementary. Superintendent Ingle says the new Texas Granite floor tile being installed at Davis is much like the current floor at the high school, requiring the appropriate maintenance.
A $407,800 bid to repair a mutual wall and cement slab found to be structurally compromised between Dade Middle School and Dade County High School was also approved unanimously by board members. Ingle says the winning bid offered by Integer Builds was nearly $100,000 less than competitors.
Ingle says the remedial cement work is set to begin May 23rd, after the last day of the school.
As for ongoing operational costs, the board approved renewing a 5 year contract with SoftDocs for the school system’s computer software needs.
The board also accepted a transportation fuel bid from Valley Oil at a rate of $2.60 per gallon.
By Vince Lennon