Poudre School District board approves video scoreboards, device refresh and bus purchases

The Poudre School District R-1 Board of Education on Feb. 25 approved three separate spending items related to athletics facilities, technology devices and transportation.

The board approved a motion authorizing staff to execute a contract for digital scoreboard installation after a motion from Director Jim Brokish and a second from Director Jessica Zamora. The motion as read during the meeting included a figure stated by the mover; the board approved the contract by a 7–0 vote. The board also approved an estimated cumulative expenditure for a districtwide student and staff “endpoint refresh” for the 2025–26 school year after a motion from Jessica Zamora and a second from Director Carolyn Reid. Finally the board approved purchase orders totaling $2,535,551 to replace part of the bus fleet; that motion was made by Jim Brokish and seconded by Director Connor Duffy and passed 7–0.

Why it matters: the votes put in motion capital- and operations-related expenditures funded under voter-approved mill levies and existing technology mill funding. District leaders said the scoreboard investment supports athletics revenue-generation opportunities and student media/production programs; the device refresh preserves the district’s 1:1 device promise and a four-year lifecycle for computers; the bus purchase replaces an aging fleet that district mechanics described as averaging about 16 years of age and high mileage.

Board discussion and rationale - Video scoreboards: District athletic staff and the chief technology officer said indoor scoreboards have the potential to generate advertising revenue (district staff estimated annual revenue in other installations at roughly $150,000–$250,000) and to create student educational opportunities in sports broadcasting and production. Board members asked about timing, expected revenue, repurposing of existing scoreboards in auxiliary gyms and vendor life-cycle estimates. The district said LED boards typically drop to half brightness after about 100,000 hours of operation (roughly 11–20 years, depending on use) and that older outdoor boards at two stadiums are on track to be paid off within four years. - Endpoint/device refresh: Chief information staff said the district continues a multi‑year device refresh financed by the technology mill; staff described a four‑year lifecycle for district Windows devices and recommended a four‑year replacement cycle for Chromebooks after warranty and repair findings. The board discussed procurement volume discounts, replacement of aging charging carts, and targeted Chromebook purchases to backfill shortfalls. - Bus purchases: district vehicle-maintenance staff said 17 buses were requested to replace severely aged vehicles and to increase spare capacity; five of the requested units will be wheelchair-capable. Mechanics and transportation leaders said the district’s fleet average age was about 16 years and that many aging units required frequent major repairs.

Votes at a glance - Video scoreboards (Action Item 7.1): Motion to authorize contract for digital scoreboards (motion made by Jim Brokish; seconded by Jessica Zamora). Vote: Brokish—aye; Kristen Draper—aye; Connor Duffy—aye; Kevin Havelda—aye; Carolyn Reid—aye; Scott Schoenbauer—aye; Jessica Zamora—aye. Outcome: approved, 7–0. - Endpoint refresh (Action Item 7.2): Motion to approve estimated cumulative expenditures for the 2025–26 student and staff endpoint refresh (motion made by Jessica Zamora; seconded by Carolyn Reid). Vote: unanimous, 7–0. Outcome: approved. - Bus fleet replacement (Action Item 7.3): Motion to authorize purchase orders totaling $2,535,551 for replacement school buses (motion made by Jim Brokish; seconded by Connor Duffy). Vote: unanimous, 7–0. Outcome: approved.

What comes next: staff will finalize contracts, schedule installations and deliveries, and begin device deployment and bus deliveries. Transportation and technology staff said some scoreboards and buses will be staged and installed over a phasing period; officials said exact installation and delivery timelines depend on manufacturers’ production schedules and permitting. The district did not announce a public timeline for when new scoreboards will first be operational.