South Middleton board approves $1 million field-house naming gift, $50,000 scoreboard sponsorship

The South Middleton School District Board of School Directors voted Dec. 2 to accept a $1,000,000 donation tied to naming rights for the district field house and a separate $50,000 sponsorship from the Butler Foundation for a scoreboard.

Administrators told the board the field-house sponsorship is structured for a 15-year naming period and said donors typically hold first right to purchase back naming rights at the end of that term. "The field house itself is a 15 year period of time," an administrator said during the discussion, describing how the district has written terms into the sponsorship agreement.

After discussion, the board approved the field-house naming sponsorship by roll call. The Butler Foundation scoreboard sponsorship was also approved; a board member disclosed that they sit on the Butler Foundation and abstained from the vote on that item. The chair called for the roll call and the motions passed.

The board also approved two facility change orders tied to projects at district buildings: an emergency HVAC replacement (an expansion tank) at $10,606 and a plumbing change order for a new floor drain and piping at $3,676. Administration characterized the HVAC work as an emergency repair necessary to complete inspections and said much of the expense reflected labor and expedited scheduling.

Board members and administrators thanked campaign volunteers and donors. "We appreciate your advocacy in continuing to reach out to our corporate and naming donors," an administrator said in noting ongoing fundraising for the capital campaign.

The approvals came during the organization and regular meeting, which also included officer elections, committee appointments and routine calendar approvals. The board adjourned following the scheduled business; administrators said the capital campaign will continue donor cultivation into January and March.