School board discusses use of leftover bond money

With a number of projects from Fulton Public Schools' 2010 Bond Issue coming in under budget, the district has money left over that can be used for other school improvements.

Just how that money should be spent was a subject of discussion during the Fulton School Board meeting Wednesday night, during which Superintendent Jacque Cowherd presented the board with a proposal to spend $22,212 on a new baseball scoreboard.

The existing scoreboard shows only the score. The proposed scoreboard would be 8'x24', would electronically display team names, show at least seven innings and would display totals for runs, hits and errors.

Longtime board member Rodney Latty said he didn't believe a new scoreboard would be the best use for the leftover bond funds - which Cowherd estimated as close to $550,000.

"I'd rather prioritize what we want," Latty said, noting the district already has delivered on its commitment regarding the baseball field and keeping just under the $50,000 budget for that particular piece of the bond projects. "With $22,000, I see five smart boards. I would rather spend that money on something else."

Latty also pointed out that other athletic facilities at the high school, such as the softball field, have received community sponsorship and support for such improvements, which he said he would like to see for the baseball field as well.

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.