During Gateway School Board’s study session Feb. 9, student representative Taylor Roberts shared recent happenings at the high school.
Events included Homecoming, Turkey Trot and a Model UN at the University of Pittsburgh. Some students also were able to observe a triple bypass procedure at Allegheny General Hospital while learning about each of the staff’s roles during surgery.
The Chick-fil-A Leader Academy’s “Do Good December” project purchased gifts and stocking stuffers for seven local families through its Angel Tree. And on National Children’s Grief Awareness Day, the Caring Team raised $357 for the Highmark Caring Place, a center that offers support for grieving children, teens and their families.
Scoreboard discussion
Per the school board’s request, Digital Scoreboards CEO Charlie Megan and associate Chris Weiler virtually discussed contracting with the company for a new scoreboard. Talks regarding a new 17-foot-by-10-foot scoreboard have been ongoing, with athletic director Don Holl in support of partnering with Digital Scoreboards.
Digital Scoreboards has been in business for five years and has scoreboards in 23 states, according to Megan.
While the scoreboard, worth approximately $152,000, is free to the district, the school would need to purchase software annually from ScoreVision, at a cost of $7,500. Digital Scoreboards, in essence, pays itself back by collecting from sponsors who advertise on the scoreboards.
Starting immediately upon setup, Gateway would receive 25% off all proceeds.
“It really is a win-win,” Megan said. “The school gets the win up front since revenue share starts at day one.”
Megan added they have 12 salespeople who work with local businesses to advertise on the scoreboards. Banks, credit unions, construction companies, hotels and retailers are the biggest advertisers, and 90% of all sponsors are local businesses.
The scoreboards can be used outside of games as well — for pep rallies, watch parties, fundraisers or robotics. Megan said some schools also use them to monitor heart rates or teach exercises classes during physical education.
“It is quite literally the biggest learning tool in the school,” Megan said. “We want to get the kids excited about using (the scoreboard) and creating content for it.”
Holl noted he wasn’t sure of the current scoreboard’s exact age but said it is somewhere between 12 and 20 years. If the district were to purchase a new scoreboard, the old one would go to the middle school.
In other news
• Director Susan DeLaney congratulated Gateway alum Courtney Jackson, who is a wide receiver for the Super Bowl champions, the Seattle Seahawks. He played football for both Syracuse and Arkansas State.
• The district expressed its sincere condolences for the loss of Larry Cervi, who died Jan. 29, just two days after his 90th birthday. Cervi was Gateway’s musical director for more than three decades. He also was the founder of the East End Kids, as well as three other performing arts studios.
• Superintendent Guy Rossi thanked Gateway parents for their patience and flexibility with changes to the schedule due to the recent severe weather and frigid temperatures. A survey regarding flexible instruction, among other things, was sent out to parents and faculty. “So far, the parents have been very supportive,” Rossi said.
• National School Counseling Week was the week of Feb. 2. Assistant Superintendent Dennis Chakey thanked the school counselors for their hard work and all of the programs they have implemented at each of the schools.