School board OKs new scoreboard, travel bus

Weymouth Field, the home of the Sidney High School Raiders football team, is set to receive a new scoreboard. The current one has been in place for 14 years.

Sponsorships and donations will allow the school to buy a larger scoreboard at no cost to the district.

On Monday night, the Board of Education for the Sidney Public School District OK’d the purchase of the new scoreboard by a unanimous vote, 5-0.

Superintendent Jay Ehler said after numerous back and forths with Pepsi and Security First Bank – the project’s principal sponsors whose logos will appear on the scoreboard – a final design was approved.

A total of $30,000 had been dedicated for the upgrade, and the price tag currently sits at $23,667. Ehler said the remaining funds could be used for upgrades to the field’s press box.

The Board of Education also approved the purchase of a travel bus for the district, as long as the 2007 vehicle passes its final inspections. The travel bus has a price tag of $187,500.

Ehler said he and two other district representatives examined the bus in person and identified a few things they wanted addressed.

“They have some final inspections to do, and they send it to Caterpillar – since it is a Caterpillar engine – and then they do inspections,” the superintendent said.

The vehicle will be used to transport district activity groups and sports teams to competitions and events.

Board member Randy Miller asked district administrators to establish a policy on the how the travel bus is going to be used.

“I can see a lot of problems it could create – with who gets it, why they get it,” he said. “I don’t have the answer, but I would like something I could hang my hat on.”

Sidney High School Principal Chris Arent said discussions had already begun on the matter.

Also at the meeting:

• Changes to the district’s student cell phone and electronic devices policy were approved.

Ehler said changes in how technology is used prompted the changes.

“The policy just wasn’t fitting what we’re doing,” he said. “Originally, when cell phones became so popular, we tried to keep them out of the school.”

Then, although they were later allowed in school, staff and faculty didn’t want to see students using them.

“Now, we’re to the point some teachers allow them for educational uses,” he said.

The new policy allows students to use cell phones and electronic devices if they have permission from a teacher, before and after school and – for middle and high school pupils – during the lunch period.

Arent said he agreed with the new policy.

“As long as they’re being used for educational purposes, I think it’s appropriate,” he added.

• During reports from school principals, many commented about Nebraska State Accountability assessment testing currently taking place.

North and South elementary schools principal Belinda Westfall said there haven’t been any technological glitches with the computer-based tests.

“The kids are doing well,” she said. “They have good attitudes and really are putting forth their best efforts.”

• West Elementary School Principal Sheri Ehler said students at her school are looking forward to upcoming fieldtrips.

Fifth-graders will participate in an outdoor educational trip near Scottsbluff and sixth-graders will embark on a paleontology field trip. Twenty fifth-graders will take part in a leadership conference on Friday, she added.

• Brandon Ross, Sidney Middle School principal, reminded board members school was canceled for middle school students on Wednesday because of a home track meet. Ninety-four of the school’s 202 pupils are on the track team, he said.

“We don’t like to let school out, but it’s kind of a lost day either way,” he said.

Middle school teachers will help run the track meet and serve as substitute teachers at the high school, he added.

• While the high school is still waiting to receive several remaining student ACT results, Arent said it appears the school will be near the national average for scores. At Sidney High, all students take the exam, whereas at many schools, only college-bound students participate in ACT.

• The next Sidney Public School District Board of Education meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 11, at 5:30 p.m. at the district office.