The gameday experience and other activities in the Seckman High School gym is being improved, thanks to a recent donation to the Imperial school.
The Jaguars Hoopers Booster Club has donated a video board and static scoreboard for the gym, and it will fund the boards’ cost and raise funds for future donations by selling advertising spots on the boards. The boards cost a combined $80,815.
“The video board and static board will create a first-class experience for our students, athletes, spectators and community,” said Tracy Schmidt, Seckman High assistant principal and activities director. “School events and classes will be able to use the board for activities in addition to all of our indoor sporting events in the gymnasium. The boards will enhance the visual, environmental and game experience in support of our student-athletes.”
When Board of Education members voted unanimously to accept the donation Dec. 17, Superintendent Paul Fregeau thanked booster club member Roger Holdenried for spearheading the process of getting the boards.
Schmidt said six companies have already agreed to purchase advertising on the boards, adding that each sponsorship is for $3,900 per year.
Shelby Roofing, State Farm Insurance, Jefferson College and Ameritime have signed three-year deals. Reinhold Electric inked a two-year deal, and Shanks Realty agreed to a one-year deal.
Schmidt said the video board was installed on the gym’s back wall over the winter break. It can be seen when people enter the gym.
“It looks great,” he said. “It is sharp. It has a clear and defined picture.”
Schmidt said staff is being trained to operate the video board.
“This is the first video board at Seckman High School and the first on a Fox C-6 (School District) campus,” he said.
Schmidt said the video board may be used for more than enhancing the gameday experience for fans during basketball, volleyball and wrestling competitions.
He told the board that teams may use the video board during practices to analyze game films as a tool to instruct players.
Schmidt said the video board may also be used during physical education classes, and devices like such as Fitbit activity trackers may be connected to the board to track students’ activities during classes.
He said the video board may be used during other events held in the gym.
“The video board definitely can be used to enhance and support student assemblies, band concerts, dances and other student and district events in the gymnasium,” he said. “This resource, kindly donated by our basketball booster club, will enhance not only the basketball programs at Seckman High School, but the athletic teams, student body and community as well.”
Schmidt said the new static scoreboard is expected to be installed during spring break, which is scheduled March 17-21.
He said the scoreboard will be placed on the gym’s western wall near the main hallway between the school’s two gyms.
“The static boards show the score, time and statistics,” Schmidt said. “Additional ads can also be sold on that static board that will pop up during timeouts and breaks in the action.”