With the help of two area businesses, the Neelyville R-IV School District and community are enjoying a new piece of equipment that is normally only seen in larger schools.
Sponsorships from Bank of Grandin and Ellis Battery fully secured a 14-by-10-foot video board in the high school gym at no cost to the school district.
"We are big proponents of supporting local schools and communities," Bank of Grandin President Rodney Moore said. "The smaller school students are now getting a larger school feeling and pride."
Bank of Grandin Branch Manager at Harviell David Watkins added he wants people to know the bank is there for the community to help growth.
Booster Club President Laura Hagood said discussions began about a potential video board last December after seeing what was in place at other districts.
A meeting was held between Score Rewards of Murray, Ky., and potential sponsors to secure the district the piece of equipment.
"(Score Rewards) works predominantly with smaller schools," Project Manager Joey Bazzell said.
The company assisted the school in receiving a state-of-the-art video board through advertisements on the piece of equipment from local businesses.
Score Rewards handles all aspects of the video board advertising including selling and designing. The school will then change advertisers on the sponsor panels and update digital advertisements when received from Score Rewards.
The school is only obligated to operate the video board and maintain the equipment in working order.
"This is a way for people to show they are behind the school and see a return on investment," Bazzell said.
The Neelyville School District entered a five-year agreement with Score Rewards for a total of $60,000. Through various levels of sponsorships, the school's booster club is able to pay $12,000 per year for the video board.
The package also includes a laptop with software for the video board, a video camera and training as often as needed on how to run the new addition.
According to Hagood, Bank of Grandin came on board as the first sponsor.
Ellis Battery then entered as the second sponsor for the video board, but one more sponsor was still needed.
With Bank of Grandin's goal of the video board being up when school started in August, they graciously finished out the sponsorship requirement in hopes another business would later join.
The video board was installed two weeks ago and was first used at the school's Maroon and White game.
Enclosed by sponsorship panels, the video board is 11-by-7 feet and has a six-millimeter pixel pitch, which is on par with what the Indiana Pacers have, Bazzell added.
"We are trying to bring a Division I aspect for sports and get the entire school involved," he said.
The Neelyville Future Business Leaders of America Club will be in charge of running the board.
Neelyville senior and FBLA reporter Cody Morgeson has taken the lead in running the board and helping train the other 50 members of FBLA after Score Rewards provided him with training.
So far, Morgeson has been able to add player line-ups during junior high basketball games, live stream game tipoff and provide game interaction graphics, such as 3-point baskets and defense, when applicable.
Neelyville girl's basketball coach Becky Hale said her girls are excited about seeing their team on the video board.
This is just the tip of what the video board is able to add to the school's athletic events and other programs.
One element Score Rewards and the booster club want people to know is that the video board is for the whole school and not just athletics.
"We want the boards to be used in all aspects of the school," Bazzell said.
Morgeson said the FBLA Club is already planning on running students of the month and district-wide announcements.
FBLA sponsor and business teacher Samantha Ward said with help of the video board, she wants all students to be aware of school activities and to get involved.
Plans are also being looked in to working the video board into the business classes curriculum.
"The advertiser funded indoor video displays is a gamer-changer for high school gyms and builds the school curriculum," Score Rewards Marketing Manager Teca Maxwell said. "The Score Rewards Partnership Program is a great way for local businesses to support the school system."
Hagood added the video board has the possibility to do so much and a media club could even be introduced in the future.
Fundraising opportunities are also available with use of the new video board, Bazzell said.
Events such as trivia nights, movie nights or livestreaming of national events can be used for the booster club to bring more money into the school for the students.
"The realm of possibilities are endless," Bazzell said.
The company offers a $1,000 scholarship opportunity each year for students involved with the video board. During last month's school board meeting, Superintendent Brad Hagood reported the money will go to the FBLA Club for their role in running the new piece of equipment.
Students also receive valuable hands-on production training by creating the digital presentations for the video board, which could eventually lead to a career.
Anyone interested in becoming an advertiser should contact Hagood for sponsorship package options.
"The board has been astronomical for the school so far," she said. "The kids and teachers are so excited. It has been beyond my expectations."