BELLE — The Athletics Booster Club has partnered with Legends Bank to donate $99,920 in new scoreboards and equipment to Owensville High School for the big gym. The Gasconade County R-2 Board of Education on April 15 was asked to approve the donation per board policy.

“The Booster Club, along with Legends Bank have agreed to donate new scoreboards for OHS in the main gym, including a digital scoreboard, an anaologue scoreboard and a side panel with 100 percent sponsorship so the district would not be out any of that money,” said Superintendent Dr. Jeri Kay Hardy. “However, as a board, if you look at board policy under ‘public gifts to the schools’ you all have to decide if you will accept those gifts.”

Athletic Director Matt Johnson was invited to share more.

“I just had them verify there would be no future cost or cost now on the school,” Johnson said. “They did verify that. There is a 10 year warranty. They included moving the scoreboards that are there now to whichever, OES or OMS, and putting them up and taking them down as part of the deal as well as a new scorers table.”

The 10-year warranty covers all parts and the video as well as a spare parts package so everything is on site.

Hardy said the picture in her report shows the scoreboards as well as large plaques surrounding the equipment to show  they were sponsored by Legends Bank and the Athletics Booster Club.

Director Russ Farrell asked if the screen was a replay screen. Johnson said it was and it has about 30 hours of preloaded graphics with it.

“I’ve already talked to Coach Ahring and he’s excited about building graphics and doing commercials and selling.”

Farrell asked if they could put anything on the screen to be played. Johnson confirmed that they could, as well as use it during assemblies, to play movies and at graduation.

“A lot of schools around have them now,” Farrell said. “Bourbon’s got a great big one.”

Hermann and Union schools have them as well.

Board President Glenn Ely addressed the group about items on new business.

“The discussion, we can automatically feel good about a lot of line items, but we wanna be deliberate and informed, that we make decisions that we don’t want to rush into changing things, even if it seems automatic,” Ely said. “The format under new business gives us the opportunity to introduce it, and ask ‘did they think about this?’ and doing good diligence. The content, generally in new business, is to introduce it and give the opportunity to be informed, deliberate, considerate and making sure we are using all resources to make sure we are aligning our decisions to the goals of the board.”

Hardy said if the board had any decisions later, they can email her and she can ask Johnson about them.

“Do we have to wait?” Farrell asked

Ely said they don’t.

“I just don’t want them to change their minds,” Farrell said.

“I think they are pretty committed to this,” Ely said.

According to the report, the Booster Club and Legends Bank would like to have the equipment installed this summer and be ready for the 2024-25 season.

If the school does approve it, the purchase will be made through the Booster Club to be able to use its tax-exempt status. Legends Bank will reimburse the club following the purchase.

“Gasconade County R-2 has zero financial responsibility,” Johnson wrote in his report. “Our existing scoreboards are out of warranty and we are responsible for all maintenance costs.”

No action was taken during the meeting. It will be voted on during the May 20 board meeting.