Memorial Stadium is getting a new scoreboard, the first since 2009.

The new scoreboard, at a cost of $205,591, gives Great Falls Public Schools students “opportunities to advance the gameday experience, provide opportunities for students to create content and learn applicable technology skills, open new revenue streams for advertising and creates new opportunities for school events that are not possible with our current technology,” according to GFPS.

The school board approved the purchase during a Nov. 24 meeting of the new scoreboard, plus two play clocks and two portable scoreboards.

GFPS board approves 15-year beverage contract

The play clocks will be mounted at each end of the stadium and the portable scoreboards will be used at soccer, baseball and the “under the lights” softball game.

The video board can be used to enhance student activities and fundraisers such as assemblies, movie nights and more that could be held in the stadium, according to GFPS.

The district purchased the new equipment from Daktronics, which is a member of the state cooperative through which school districts can use without going through the formal bidding process.

The purchase is being funded with revenue from the revenue enhancement fund, which is monies generated by the beverage contract, advertising in other facilities and other applicable areas.

The school board approved the new beverage contract immediately before considering the scoreboard purchase during the Nov. 24 meeting.

The district has purchased all other major scoreboards from Daktronics, making training on the new scoreboard easier, according to GFPS.

The new scoreboard will include advertising, video and timed events during track and field competitions.

“The scoreboard package includes curriculum that will allow students to create and deliver digital content that will be used throughout the event/contest. These skills can be used further by students who are interested in continuing this type of work at the collegiate level,” according to GFPS.

During the Nov. 24 meeting, Luke Diekhans, GFPS’ business operations manager, said that the district had been working with Daktronics for several years.

He said there was about $300,000 in the revenue enhancement fund with more projects coming, so district officials were trying to plan ahead with the available funds.

Craig Duff, school board member, said he had a parent contact him the previous week upset that students can’t get things they need in classrooms and during the board’s work session on school safety, they discussed things they can’t fund.

“Scoreboard seems like a luxury,” Duff said, when other needs are unmet and district will likely be asking the public for more funds.

Diekhans said the district can incorporate donations and advertising into the project since there’s space for ads on the scoreboard.

He said those advertising are told how the revenue enhancement funds are used, such as the scoreboard or other facility enhancements without using district funds used for other needs.

Duff voted against the scoreboard purchase.