[September 09, 2011] Apollo considers proposal on scoreboards Tweet Sep 09, 2011 (St. Cloud Times - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- The football scoreboard at Michie Field needed emergency repairs so it would work for the Sept. 2 game between Apollo High School and Fergus Falls. School officials say it is time to replace that scoreboard and they have a plan they think will allow that to happen without additional cost to the district. St. Cloud school district is considering a contract with a company that would buy Apollo a new football scoreboard, a new baseball and softball scoreboard and enhanced basketball and baseball scoreboards plus three electronic kiosks that would be place at main entrances. In exchange, the company would get to sell advertising that would be placed on the scoreboards and kiosks. "We have to have the funds to get them. We are in desperate need to replace that scoreboard," Apollo Principal Charlie Eisenreich said. "This seemed like a no cost project for the district." The district would have approval of all advertising to make sure it fits with its standards. The school board still needs to review and approve the contract. Apollo tried to raise money a few years ago to replace the scoreboard and install artificial turf. That effort dies when one of the parent volunteers moved out of town. The project could be paid for with capital dollars or maintenance money but the district has millions worth of higher-priority items such as roof replacements, boiler replacements ahead of it. The plan would be to sell sponsorships to about a half dozen businesses that would get their ad or logo placed in each of the scoreboards and the three kiosks, Eisenreich said. The kiosks are electronic message boards that are versatile and provide many options for the school. They can provide directions and announcements. They can show video from school events. Students and families can use them to update their school lunch accounts, buy tickets and many other things, Eisenreich said. St. Cloud Technical & Community College has similar kiosks. "There is just an unlimited number of things we are able to do. Literally, you can walk up to it and pay for activity fees or put money into lunch account," Eisenreich said. The kiosks would be placed by the front door near the principal's office, on northside that is the main entrance to the gym and auditorium and the door that leads to the district office. "The kiosks are going to be the big attractor," Eisenreich said. The plan is to install the gym scoreboards for this winter. The softball and baseball scoreboards would be ready for the spring and the football scoreboard would be installed for the fall. The scoreboards would be electronic and have the ability display video and statistics. The total cost for all the scoreboards is about $340,000. The football scoreboard would cost about $100,000 and would be a step up from just the score, time and quarter that the existing scoreboard has, Eisenreich said. The scoreboards also would accommodate other sports such as track, soccer, volleyball and gymnastics. ___ (c)2011 the St. Cloud Times (St. Cloud, Minn.) Visit the St. Cloud Times (St. Cloud, Minn.) at www.sctimes.com Distributed by MCT Information Services [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]